AüR Audio Aure

Aure my green emerald

The Aure is my second IEM from AüR Audio, I bought it with my own money. All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time, and I have no association with AüR writing this. This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you. While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.


About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with sub and mid bass boost, mids can be forward but not too much. I can also handle some treble spikes if it is not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned IEMs for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.
Main music genres I listen to are Metal, Electronica, Jazz, Indy rock/metal, R&B, Pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there. I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman and Minidisc.

I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play. My wife has also played many instruments from string to wind instruments and also piano.

My current standard in Headphones is ZMF Verite and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.

My current standard in IEMs is AüR Audio Neon Pro and Penon Serial. The Neon Pro has 10 BAs, and has a near perfect tonality for me. The Penon Serial that also has a near perfect tonality for me, that is more relaxing and organic sounding with its triple DD configuration.
Both of them have sound signatures that I can listen to all types of music with.

Gear used in the main rig is Topping E70 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokuis I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.
I have also used the Feliks Audio Echo, one of the more silent OTL amps.

Portable gear used during the review: Truthear SHIO, Tempotec Sonata HD II , Hiby R6 III, Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022, Quidelix 5k DAC/AMP.

I have a good range of cables from ISN, DUNU, Penon, NiceHCK, XINHS and some others.

My absolute favorite cable pairing with the Aure has been the Penon Mix cable, very close second is a good silver plated copper from XINHS.



Aür Audio

AüR Audio is a Singapore brand who makes in-ear monitors and is founded by two friends, Nicholas Teo and Abel Hsu. It is a small business where Abel handles the research and development while Nicholas manages the sales, marketing and distribution.

The IEMs are handmade by Abel from start to end of production, carefully ensuring that everything is perfect with a quality control that is above the usual chi-fi market.

On the other side of AüR is Nicholas who has his customers in mind, one of the most helpful sellers I have contacted. When I have asked something about their products or recommendation for other audio related gear, he has been more than happy to help me out.

https://www.auraudio.store/

Allure 6 BA (Discontinued)
Neon 10 BA (Discontinued)
Neon Pro 10 BA
Aure 8mm DD and 6 BA (Discontinued)
Alita 12 BA
Aurora 2 DD and 6 BA
Ascension Configuration still secret coming soon
Allusion Configuration still secret coming soon





So what is the Aure

The Aure is a hybrid IEM with 1 DD and 6 BA, tuned to be W shaped in its sound with spectacular mids. When I ordered the Aure I was not sure about the green shell, but it looked spectacular. I love how you can see everything inside, also how tidy Abel’s work is. This is made by hand and not 3D printed.

The Aure has been made in a small quantity around 25 units, and had to be discontinued since the driver they choose is not up to their standard anymore.

They have focused on selling the IEM in the cheapest way possible. Accessories and cable are not much, but enough to get you going. That is what you get for paying less. The cable provided is an average 2 core silver plated copper, and you also get a hard case with some tips.

The form factor is very ergonomic and the shells are average in size, they are also very light. AüR knows how to make comfortable shells, same goes for the nozzles having good length while not too long. It also has a very perfect angle and width so I can use 1 size smaller tip and still get a perfect seal.
If I could nit-pick a lip on the nozzle it would be good to secure the tips more.

8mm Dynamic Drivers for all ranges
2 Balanced Armatures for mids
4 Balanced Armatures for treble

Frequency Response: 20 hz - 20kHz
Impedance: 15Ω at 1 kHz
Sensitivity: 108 +- 1dB at 1 kHz




Some photos from the maker Abel:





Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

At first listen I was welcomed by musicality more than being overwhelmed by detail, first time testing Neon Pro I got the other reaction. I liked the Aure right from the get go, I did let it burn in for many days after and probably have over 300 hours burnin/usage now. And if anything has changed its how coherent the dynamic driver has melted together with the rest.

The overall timbre is slightly coloured with some extra emphasis on bass and mids, the treble is actually the most neutral part here. I would category the sound signature as a W shaped sound similar to what others have said before me.

There is no BA timbre at all going on here, the DD used is covering all the ranges without an advanced crossover board. I have a good feeling this is the reason why the mids and treble sound so organic, smooth and full sounding.

There is just sometimes when listening to very fast music that I would have wished for the sound to be faster.This is where I prefer to use planars or all BA sets instead like the Neon Pro.


Going to use the ranges here in review:



Details and soundstage

When first testing Aure after having used the Neon Pro for many months almost exclusively, the Aure appeared less detailed. And after having adjusted my ears to the change the Aure shows lots of details from the lowest notes up into the highest ranges. What impresses me the most is maybe how smooth and easy going the sound is while retaining good details.

Soundstage is not the largest or closed in, it has an intimate approach. It sounds like you are sitting in the front row to a performance, this is a very good combo when listening to most music. This is not the sound If you are a person who prefers the grandest stage and listens mostly to orchestral pieces.

Bass

The bass in Aure is controlled and reaches deep into the sub bass range with good visceral impact. When listening to a low drum kick the speed is not slow and not fast like BA bass can be. I would say it is very natural sounding to how real life drums are portrayed.

The Aure has some extra mid bass, so the sound gets that fuller thickness. This is what I always prefer, it is why I am not a fan of very many sets that get released after the Harman target.

There is also some good detail going, listening to cello playing you notice very much but not as much as you can hear with some good all BA sets.

The amount of bass is north of neutral, but it's not a bass head level. I still believe this can satisfy most people unless you need your brains to rattle, nothing wrong with that I also enjoy a full on bass experience from time to time.

Mids

This is perhaps the most magical part of the Aure, the mid range is slightly forward and has a fullness thanks to both the balanced armatures and the dynamic driver. For me this means musicality and detail, so much detail and emotion you hear in both vocals and instruments. Often I get fatigued by forward mids, never here. There is some voodoo magic going on and I am addicted to it.

Both male and female vocals are equally good, and it nevers gets shouty or too much.

The mid range does not increase too much up into the upper mids, for me this means I can listen to more types of music with the Aure without getting fatigued.

Treble

I mentioned earlier that the treble is slightly stepped back compared to the bass and mids, this is so small that I only notice it if I go from a high energy IEM like the Neon Pro. What is very present is that there is lots of treble detail going on, while at the same time the sound is not overly forward. This is not at the level of the most resolving IEMs, but it is higher than other hybrids/tribrids around this price point and some that even cost more.

There is also a good amount of shimmering in the upper air harmonics and should please most people.

The treble feels effortless, it's not like there is any struggle.



Music

I will just talk about some of the music I like, the music I use here are some of my reference tracks. When I am listening to music and not evaluating, I prefer to listen to whole albums. That goes for the albums here, all of them I like. When comparing the Aure to other sets I have used the tracks listed here.


Jacob Guerevitsch - Lovers in Paris

Danish artist who plays the spanish guitar, his guitar technique is sublime. Mexican margarita was recommended by my friend Tony, and has stuck with me as one of my best test tracks. Perfect for evaluating how capable a set is, I bet I can use this one track alone and know if I like a set or not.

The best part is how natural and full sounding the guitar is on the Aure, here you hear so much detail from the strings or the buzzing when it is drummed on the guitar. The speed of the Aure is perfect and it never feels like there's too much going on. Amount of bass is just right making it sound full sounding.

I would have preferred a little extra bite in the treble here similar to the Neon Pro. But at the same time the Aure is maybe more natural sounding.




Haevn - Trade it for the Night

One of my favorite tracks to check male vocals, the amount of expression and emotion is breathtaking. Even at the start I knew the Aure was special with how the clapping sounded, then when he started to sing I was sold. I can talk about how textured the chorus is or how his voice vibrates, but the thing is it is perfect.

The drum hits are also impactful and you can feel it, more bass would have been too much on this track.

The nuances in his voice is breathtaking, and it feels like I am next to him recording this.




Swallow The Sun - Woven into Sorrow

One of my favorite bands is Swallow The Sun, this is music I prefer with faster sets. Still this is on the slower side and the Aure can keep up.

Nothing to complain about his voice, it shows the emotions he tries to portray and sounds full. Going to the drum, each cymbal strike or drum hit has lots of detail and sounds very clear and natural. The distorted guitar has some good thickness and feels brutal and fun. Same for drums having just the right type of decay.

The violins give some epic backing up to his voice in the end, even the last part of death growling is portrayed very good and maybe better than my Neon Pro.




Intronaut - Cubensis

Not the fastest metal track, but a good track overall to check how busy an IEM sounds like. Also very good to just listen to drum hits and distorted guitar. Here I would say I would have liked a little clearer sound with faster impact, a few parts can appear slightly congested compared to my reference.
I am also very harsh when saying it, I always listen to music like this with the Neon Pro or ZMF Verite both being on the faster side.

What the Aure does perfectly is not becoming fatiguing, it has a good line of having nice energy in the sound while not being overdone. The drums are visceral and fun, same goes for his voice being full sounding and not screechy.



Francis Harris - Pensum

Leland is the debut album from Francis Harris, I love the whole album. Maybe not the most unique house album out there but it has what I call soul, it is masterfully made with almost a minimalistic approach without too much going on.

The bass beat is hypnotizing and drags me into a mindstate where I close my eyes and only listen. The Aure has a wonderful low end for Pensum track. The same for how it handles the trumpet, it's breathy and soft while showing more than enough detail. There are some background sounds appearing now and then,some stuff you only hear on more resolving sets.

What I did not believe was that the Aure would pick up so much of the background.
Very good separation of the music with good layering even if it's not the widest or deepest.




Agnes Obel - Familiar

Here we are getting both vocal and instruments, one of my favorite tracks to test midrange on. It is very emotional on Aure, you get that sound I talked about before where you are right in front of the performance. Her voice is nuanced and you can almost hear how close she has been to the microphone while recording. There are nuances you hear like how she turns away from the microphone to dampen the voice or singing more into it to get more breathiness.

The male vocals also have lots of detail and emotion, at one point I got chills when evaluating the last part.

The cellos are used both for bowing and plucking with lots of detail in each note, with enough fullness that cellos deserve.


Dominique Fils-Aimé - Birds

The perfect song to show how emotional and breathtaking the vocal presentation of how the Aure is. The song has Dominique's voice with some acapella, a cello and some clapping going on. Nothing more but sounds so perfect and full, I get moved by this song. And I have never heard a better presentation than with Aure. The nuances are almost overwhelming and it leaves me wanting more when going over to other sets.

Here also you can hear the subtle changes of the string plucking of the strings, the resonating tone continuing to it is stopped.



Herbie Hancock - Chameleon

Can start with saying that the Aure is now my favorite set to be used with different jazz or funk music. At first I would believe that the forward mids would be too much for me as I can be sensitive to brighter brass or piano, but no this balances everything perfect for me in jazz.

Legendary track, so much going here. The drums sound really good, maybe I would have preferred a slight more bite to the cymbal strikes. The synth bassline sounds really good, with enough decay to not become stale.

The tenor sax playing at the end sounds really good and has just the right amount of bite to it.

Here you also get a real good sense of the soundstage of the Aure, you are brought into the center of the music with sounds coming from all directions. The soundstage is perfect for smaller jazz groups, while I still prefer a more grand stage when listening to big band jazz.




Yello - Kiss In Blue

Maybe my favorite track from Yello, rhythmic instruments and intimate vocals. Perhaps the perfect track for showing what the Aure is capable of doing. The bass beat hits hard and drags you into the music, then Heidi pulls you more in with a sensual voice.

First off how good the low end is here was not something I was expecting when I got the Aure, I knew that vocal presentations were going to be excellent. But the bass did probably impress me the most, it feels effortless with good impact and good texture. Keep in mind this track has lots of bass and can sometimes feel overdone on some sets.

Both Dieter and Heidi are perfect, I could not have wished for anything else from the Aure.
Same goes for the instruments and detail, just perfect musicality.





Comparisons





Penon Serial

The Serial is a reference set for me on how dynamic driver IEMs should sound like, very correct in musical playback with its analog touch.

Serial uses 3 dynamic drivers. One for bass, mids and treble. It has a natural sound that is more dark and analogue, speed is also slower due to longer resonating decay. It is very musical and fun, which makes me enjoy music more than just picking it apart. So for $300, it is a unique and special IEM. I believe there is a huge chance you would buy one after demoing the Serial.

The sound is darker in the Serial compared to the Aure, both have a very pleasant timbre. They both make music enjoyable and fun, while never being tiresome. They have enough difference in their timbre. making both great to have in your collection.

The bass in the Aure has similar resolution to the Serial, the sub bass amount and impact is stronger in the Aure. While moving into the mid bass the slam and amount is more in the Serial. But both have similar engaging bass, some songs are better on the Aure while another will be better on the Serial.

Moving into the mids both are great performers, both do both instruments and vocals perfectly.
The one having the best vocals goes to the Aure with a more intimate and higher resolving capability. Same goes for instruments being more pleasing on the Aure, while I adore the Serial there is some of the upper mid range that can get too much for me.

Treble is also more detailed and more forward the Aure, this is also why I call the Serial slightly dark sounding. Both have good treble extension, but there is more airyness in the Aure.

Soundstage on both are circular sounding around you, while the Serial positions everything further out.




Penon FAN 2

The FAN 2 I have back on loan for this, it is also a hybrid IEM with a W shaped sound signature.
It uses 2 DDs for the bass and 1 BA for mids and 1 BA for the high frequencies, modest specs but still achieves very good tonality. Only reason I do not own one anymore is due to fit issues, making them uncomfortable over time. Price is $279 when there is no sales going, so slightly cheaper than the Aure.

The first thing you notice is how fuller sounding the Aure is over the FAN 2. The bass goes deeper with better sub bass impact, the FAN 2 always seemed to lack something for me here. The mid bass is closer in quality and amount, but also here there is something that sounds better in the Aure over the FAN 2. When looking at the definition of drum hits or strings in the bass there is a similar definition.

When listening to both male and female vocals there is more intimacy and fullness on the Aure, it sounds more real and there is more resolution. Maybe not weird as there are more BA drivers together with the DD doing the mids on the Aure. The Fan 2 can be too unnatural on certain female voices, some harshness that is controlled better on the Aure. Instruments on both appear similar but also here certain brass instruments get fatiguing on the FAN 2 while this never happens on the Aure.

Treble amount is similar on both, the biggest difference is that the Aure has better airiness and higher resolution. The energy of the treble in the FAN 2 is slightly more.

Soundstage is wider and deeper on the FAN 2, where the Aure is more intimate. The Aure is more circular around you,while the FAN 2 feels a little distant with not as good imaging capabilities.



ISN EST50

The EST50 is a tribrid that I own and like, it fits quite well in here for a comparison. It is priced similarly but slightly more, and I recently finished my review for it. The sound of the EST50 is more L shaped in the sound signature with the bass taking the spotlight. Price is $449 and you get 1DD for low end, 1 BA for the mids and 1 for the high frequencies. Also for ultra high frequencies you get 2 EST drivers.


Bass is what surprised me the most with the EST50, it is known for its great low end. Providing textured bass that is boosted and reaching very low, almost like a subwoofer backing up a stereo system. Impactful bass kicks that make you smile, at least if you are a bass lover like me.
Both have impactful sub bass, but the EST50 is the most bass heavy. This can make certain songs be overbearing if they are already boosted in the sub bass, while the Aure never makes it get too much.

Both have similar mid bass energy, while it can sound more forward on the Aure due to the sub bass not being as boosted. I would rate both almost equally as good in the bass, and they were closer than what I would believe.

The bass in the Aure melts together better with the rest of the tonality, in the EST50 you can hear there is a difference going from the bass into the mids. The bass can also seem more distant like it is portrayed in a bigger room compared to the Aure.

Both female and male vocals are behind the energy of the bass, but this also makes them to never be shouty or sibilant. The Aure has more forward instrument and vocal playback compared to the EST50. Also the upper midrange is relaxing in the EST50 and more forward in the Aure. Even with being more forward the Aure is also the smoothest of the two in the mid range. The EST50 has very detailed mid range, but it falls behind the very detailed mids of the Aure.

Treble resolution of both is detailed and tuned without being shouty, the Aure is the most resolving set even with EST drivers in the EST50. Both are excellent in extension in the upper treble, detailed while not being increased too much.

Soundstage is very different, for me the EST50 is wider than deep. The Aure puts you more inside the music, while in the EST50 it's more like sitting right in front of a performance.





Summary

Why I called the Aure an emerald is because there is a saying that the emerald is a gem that relieves stress and brings joy. The Aure does a similar thing for me, when I am tired and want to enjoy some beautiful music this is the IEM I will put on.
I am happy I had a good time deciding on getting the Aure, as just some time after I ordered it was announced there were only a few more left. So this is now a very rare gem of an IEM, and I bet all that own cherish it.

The Aure has become one of my favorite sets, I could have taken my Aure and a few other IEMs and been set for life. It goes well with all my music, only for a few genres I prefer something else. Taking in the price it gets a solid 5 star rating.

So again congrats Abel and Nicholas this is the second time I rate something 5 star both from AüR, looking forward to your next release Aurora.

Ranking System

1 Very bad or unlistanable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

Price can push something up or down half grade.

Going by this ranking system together with my deeper evaluation matrix, the Aure get a solid 4 star. Bus it delivers something unique and special with a low cost it deserve the 4.5.

AuR Audio Aure review
Gear: AuR Audio Aure (all stock) + Sony WM1Z (Direct Source setting , no EQ)
I came by AuR Audio by coincidence and also got introduced by a close audio friend of mine, after a brief discussion with Mr. Teo who represent AuR Audio I decided to buy the Aure. Not long after that, AuR Audio decided to halt the production of the Aure indefinitely making me one of the last 18 owners of the Aure series. I feel deeply sad writing this review as no one will be able to buy it anymore and the fate of the Aure in the future remains a mystery. However, the sound quality of the Aure deserved proper recognition from listeners so despite all that I still put my heart into this review.
Look and Accessories: You get a basic green resin iem shell, 2 pairs of tips in M and L size (S already on the iem), a hard case, and nothing else, Ok enough chit chat, time to jump to the most important part.

Sound Quality
Now this is where the magic happens.
Bass: Warm, powerful bass hit you just right, you can feel decent bass impact then sub-bass resonates around you. It’s a very speaker-like bass feeling. If you’re finding that organic DD bass with decent rumble, then this iem has what you’re looking for. The Aure has a fair amount of bass that can satisfy the majority of listeners, the bass fits well with songs that have slow bass speed or lean more toward creating a warm environment. I can say that the bass of the Aure favors pop music more than other genres, with the right vocal hit empowered by high quality, rumbly bass can melt you away. Can the Aure handle dance music? I would say it can if you are not a heavy fan of dance/EDM music since I feel it needs more bass impact with faster bass decay so it can keep track of records that have fast bass speed, otherwise, it would feel a bit suffocate.
Mid: The star of the show here, the mid-range of the Aure is forward, thick, and full of emotion. The Aure can portray both male and female vocals well but after spending about a month with it I find the Aure favors the male over the female more (only a bit). Empowered by the bass, with the right track, doesn’t matter if it is female or male, the Aure can definitely break you with the power of warmth and emotion from the singer, you want love? You will get love. If you spend most of the time listening to vocals and you want the vocal to be a bit forward then the Aure is a prime candidate for you. High mid will not satisfy those who crave female high to death or want boosted high-mid but it definitely has no slouch either and hold its own power. Overall the mid is neutral, forward and can cover both male and female
Treble: Average compare to 2 other ranges, “Safe” is the word I would use to describe the treble of the Aure, string instruments sound great but if you looking for the tension of the string every time it got pulled or the lingering treble you will not find it here. I can still listen to it but not if I'm turning my picky mode on. In the manner of review, the treble is not suitable for those who want those boosted treble or simply want sparkly (maybe earsplitting?) treble.
Soundstage, imaging, and other stuff.
For a 500$ iem I would say the soundstage is average, not wide nor narrow, a tad narrower compared to the Blessing 2 if I remember correctly. Imaging is decent and not much to talk about here, it doesn’t do anything wrong but nothing really stands out compared to others iem from this price range. What is special about the Aure is the continuity between ranges, although the Aure is a hybrid iem I don’t feel the distinction between the bass and mid, it's tuned so well that I almost thought it was just a single DD if I wasn’t paying attention.


Verdict
The Aure is not only a hit but also an amazing start for AuR audio and for people who want to know the brand. The Aure displays the philosophy and target of the AuR to hit the sweet spot between value and sound quality while also being unique and doesn't sound like a cheap copy of any iem. Needless to say, they really did it with the Aure. I'm looking forward to buying more iem from them, my next target will be their Neon Pro but for now, my current objective will survive with instant noodles for the next few months. Until we meet again AuR Audio

Intro

Sometimes, things happen that are to be cherished. I had never heard of Aure Audio until I clicked on a link in pursuit of information about a new model for another brand. In the host of posts on that Facebook page was a post by Nicholas of Aur Audio talking about their Aure earphones. A bit of reading later, I was making an order for the Aure, totally unplanned……I have no regrets, what I have had is lots of pleasure from these earphones.

I later discovered from the Aur Audio website that the business was set up by two audiophiles to produce what they believe are great earphones. On having a chat with Nicolas, I can say these are real audio enthusiasts who know their stuff and on hearing the Aure, I can only say, if this is how they develop into the future, they will be a great boon to our hobby.

I am an audio enthusiast who enjoys listening to good reproduction of music on various monitors, especially earphones. I must stress that music, as opposed to gear, remains my prime motivation, which got me into this addictive and (potentially) expensive hobby. Like most audio enthusiasts, I have been in search of, what could be the illusive, perfect sound, and when I hear something which stirs my soul, they are worth shouting about, hence this review.

Disclosure and Note

I paid the full price of $370 for the Aure. Reviewing is a hobby for me. I spend so much time with the items I review that if I do not like them, I do not review them. That might explain to some why I have a positive approach to reviews as opposed to cynical approach. I rate items I review based on their price range, compared to similar items I have heard in the price range.

All opinions I express here are my own with no influence from anyone. No one has editorial control or influence over the contents of this review. I do not read or watch reviews of items I intend to review. I make an effort to ensure that I give the reader factual information. I appreciate your feedback.

Form, Fit and Finish

The package: It must be said that, at this stage, there is not much to the packaging of the Aure, it is sparse. I was told that the firm is exploring packaging options. My set came in a round black metal case, with no inscription on the case, to the lack of inscription, to that, I say, “yes”!. In the case were the IEMs, cable, a cleaning brush and four sets of tips, to that I say. “Fine”, if the sonic performance of these earphones are worth the lack of accessories. Having said that, I would not take a set which had poor sonic performance simply for the elaborate packaging with numerous accessories. If you are the sort of buyer who likes to have a fanfare with the grand opening ceremony on each occasion you acquire a new set, I am afraid the Aure will not satisfy that desire, but they probably satisfy your sonic desires and certainly exceeded my expectations on sonic performance.



My one desire would have been to get a balanced cable in the package, but not on this occasion. The wires on the Aure are beautiful silvery, four-strand twisted skinny cable with good weight, which is split at a chrome plated cylindrical block with a clear slider, becoming two sets of twisted two strands after the splitter. The cable is supple, malleable and flows very nicely with no microphonics and would be a good choice if you use single ended cables. At one end of the cable is a chrome covered two pin connection with a red (for right) and clear (for left) makings. At the other end is a matching chrome plated cylinder with an indent for grip terminating in the 3.5mm plug. I would happily use the original cable, but I prefer to use a balanced output where the option exists, so I swapped the original cable for the cable which most matches the original, the Dunu DW02. The Dunu DW02 is also a skinny cable, four split to two and silvery. The skinny cables are a perfect balance for the IEMs, which are light in weight.

Form: The Aure are a hybrid set, with one dynamic driver (DD) and six Balanced Armature (two of which are knowles BAs) per ear piece.
The earpieces are resin, which are not filled in, hence the earpieces are relatively light in weight. They have a two-colour scheme, one Red (need I say for the right ear) and black.



Fit: The shells are transparent which is more obvious on the red earpiece than on the black. They are well contoured with a wing on each. For my ears they are quite comfortable and give me excellent isolation. My only reservation is that the lip on the nozzle could be bigger to better hold eartips. Having said, an eartip was left in my left ear (unintended pun) only on two occasions in when I quickly pulled the ear pieces out to hear someone.

My setup for this review

I paired them with Samsung galaxy note 10 Plus, Xiaomi Mi Mix and my Shanling M7 DAP, as my source, and for amplification variably, The HAA FEE HA11, TRI TK2, Fiio BTR5 and BTR7, Shanling UA3 dongle DAC/Amp, the Littlebear B4X tube Amp paired with Taotronics Bluetooth DAC, Rod Rain Audio DAC/Amp paired with Xduoo MT604 tube balanced Amp, using mostly 2.5mm and 4.4mm. I used my native music files, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and UAPP music player.

Synergy

The Aure are easy to drive and work perfectly well on a smartphone with or without amplification. However, they are also uniquely, quite easy to pair, with the Aure’s clear and transparent sound rising above all the sources, DACs and amplification.

What stood out to me was the slight lift in mid-bass with the Shanling UA3 dongle DAC/Amp, and the Littlebear tube Amp, which gave a delightful analogue sound. I must say these are marginal variations to the Aure sound, which remained resolutely clear and detailed on every source/amplification combination I used. However, the Xduoo MT604 paired with the Rodrain Audio DAC/Amp, as a DAC, preamp was the most extreme presentation of the Aure. Effectively, on that tube setup, the mid-bass was lifted to become much more prominent and potent without losing, the clarity and definition of notes across the frequency spectrum.



The pairing with my Shanling M7 was sublime with the Littlebear a close second. The M7 which brings out the micro details in most earphones and headphones I use with them, did not bring out any more resolution from the Aure but it was such a delightful pairing, I just let the music play.

The sound

Sound of the Aure, Generally
I would describe the Aure as “W” shaped, which is in effect balanced across the frequency spectrum. To my ears, the Aure are the perfect display of the true character of a “W” shaped set, in that if the recording has bass it is brought out, and that goes for mids and highs, which, in my opinion, is different from a neutral or flat set of earphones which do not bring anything forward but maintain a flat sonic presentation. That is my interpretation of the difference between a “W” shaped or balanced sonic presentation as opposed to Neutral or flat sonic presentation.

The effect is that, you may have a track that is bass heavy and the Aure will present the track as such. Whilst an orchestral piece with a mass violins will be placed exactly where they are meant to be in the presentation, this is also true for vocals, saxophones or pianos….if it is in the recording it will come out into your ears. At this point I ought to mention that, what many would usually expect from a set of earphones with such clarity and detail retrieval is that they are a bit sanitised and analytical. Usually what is described as “musical” flavour (which I refer to as melodic) is usually lost with heighten resolution, not with the Aure, there is a certain melodic flavour to the tones that you give you great pleasure listening to the Aure, you do not get the sensation of a clinical presentation of sound.



Instrument separation, Imaging, Stage, and Timbre

The Aure produce superb clarity and outstanding detail retrieval. They are on par with some earphones well beyond the price range of the Aure. The quality and tuning of the BAs is such that they pick up every detail from the recording. If these earphones had been produced by a big name brand, they will be heading for the hall of fame…..and to get this quality at this price is rare.

Separation of instruments is incredibly good, as a consequence (in most instances) the Aure have such clarity and detail retrieval, instruments are rendered distinctly separate so that you can pick an instrument and follow it right through the particular track to which you are listening. This then gives the mental image of the place of each instrument within the perceived stage. Of course the perception of stage, is also dependent on the recording.

Candy Dulfer - My Funk


The sound-stage on this track is superb listening to it on the Aure.
The voices and saxophone remain centred while the other instruments are busy all around the stage. The track gets very busy but the Aure keeps the instruments nicely separated.

Listening to the Aure, it is simple, if it is there, the Aure would pick it out. The sound-stage is incredibly good for earphones at any price.



Timbral accuracy is very good, I do not hear what is often referred to as, BA timbre. The tone of instruments sound realistic to my ears with some variation depending on your source, and DAC/Amps. My experience with the Aure is that they sound true to the instruments with all sources I currently have in my possession.

Sound check
You may want to put on your monitors of choice and check out the music using the links.



Bass
Definition across the frequency spectrum is outstanding. It follows that the bass notes are also very well defined. The extension on the bass is very good, sub-bass is therefore deep and visceral.

The Dynamic driver also renders great quality beautifully defined mid-bass notes. The notes can clearly be defined as you listen to the bass line. My only slight reservation is on some track, very few tracks I would not say no to a touch more bass (but then I came to the Aure from a bass set) and it is really nitpicking.
Brandon Beal - Twerk It Like Miley -

You want sub-bass? Get ready! The Aure are not bass shy, they just shake!

Scary Pockets - Etta James Lauryn Hill Mashup (featuring Ben Folds and - Maiya Sykes) -

Mids

The mid frequencies stand proud and full with lush tones on both male and female voices. Saxophone, guitar, and piano solos are distinct and all so lush. This applies generally for instruments in this midrange of the frequency spectrum. I use the terms “vivid clarity” in the title because that is what the Aure give you, and that is not limited to the highs, it is across the entire range. The midrange is bold and lush without being shouty, they just give every time they are asked to deliver.

Marc Brussard - Cry to me (Acoustic) -

Klazz Brothers - Fur Elise -

Chuck Mangione - Feel So Good -

Daniel Castro - I’ll Play The Blues For You -
Treble

The Aure have some of the best highs I have heard on a set of earphones with the exception of some Electrostatic driver sets.
Treble is detailed and clear and as the title says vividly outstanding. It is one of those occasions, where if, as a reviewer, you heap such praise on a set of earphones, some get the impression that you are over egging the pudding a bit. I simply say, read other reviews, watch what others say, and if you get the opportunity listen to the Aure for yourself, do so.
I am not treble sensitive so I cannot comment on how those who are treble sensitive may hear the Aure, but what I can say is that I hear no sibilance whatsoever. No doubt if a recording is sibilant, it would come through in a set which does detail retrieval to the extent the Aure do pick up detail. However, they are not tuned to overemphasise the extreme highs, for me they are just right.

Al Marconi - Innocence -

This track has some delicious shimmering, listening on most earphones, you just have to remember there may be details you will hear for the first time when listening to this on the Aure. If you have the Aure to hand, listen first on another set, then come to the Aure, you will then get an insight into what the Aure do. The reason is simple, once you hear the micro details on the Aure, you are more likely to pick those details up on another set, you cannot unhear what you have just heard.

Hauser - Air on a G String - -

The Aure renders the violins beautifully, in one word, enchanting. However be prepared to hear the sound of the violin bows as they move across the srings.

Comparisons

TRI Starshines - Two BAs and two eclectrostatics - Price: $499.99 USD

The TRI Starshines are one of my favourite earphones, how do they differ from the Aure? That is the point when you get to this $300 and above range, it is the difference. Firstly, the TRI Starshines are a bit more expensive and require a lot more power than the Aure. My view is that generally, electrostatics have a bit more weight to their presentation of highs. Listening back and forth as I write this, the BAs on the Aure do just as well, but the Aure have a slightly more airy treble compared to the Stashines.

I do not detect any difference between the two sets when it comes to the midrange. The other notable difference is the bass on the, BA bass on the Starshines and DD bass on the Aure. Using the same setup, the sub-bass emphasis is greater on the Aure whilst the mid-bass is tune to be slightly more prominent on the TRI. Here, we are talking about small margins, and a different track may present as slightly different again, but for me they are on a par with the TRI Starshines.

Cayin Fantasy - One Dynamic driver - Price:$799 USD

It has been a while since I heard and reviewed the Cayin Fantasy. My memory tells me that they are incredibly detailed sounding, I have no doubt they would sound as detailed to me, today, as they did then. It would be totally unfair to compare the sound based on memory, but what I can say is that the issue many had with the Fantasy is the bass response. Most felt the Fantasy fell short in their presentation of bass, just too lean.

Where I differed from most is that, although I agreed that mid-bass was lean, I thought others did not give the Fantasy credit for their sub-bass, which were/are great. I have to say, maybe unfairly (because they are not in my ears now) but not entirely (because it was unanimous) that the Fantasy fall short in that regard, mid-bass was lean.
The Aure , in comparison, do just as well on their sub-bass and without shadow of doubt, the Aure do a great job on the mid-bass, whereas, the Fantasy just did not have much mid-bass to speak of and short of having the Fantasy with me to compare, I would say they both do an excellent job with their extended sub-bass.

Conclusion
I find the Aure, exceptionally good at clarity and detail retrieval and I cannot but say (without gushing) they are worth your hard earned money, but not, if you are looking for a bass heavy set of earphones. If you are looking for accessories, as opposed to sound quality, the Aure may not be for you, but for sound quality the Aur Audio Aure have outstanding vivid clarity…..the Aure are rather special. These guys at Aur Audio are on to something.

This is the first time I have given a set of earphones 5 stars, and the Aure are definitely S Tier to my ears.

Enjoy your music!