AüR Audio Neon Pro

AuR Neon Pro ($706):



Neon Pro is a statement in the IEMs world that sets bar unreachably high to other manufacturers all over the world. It’s a real challenge for ChiFi industry.




Neon Pro



Handcrafted shells.


Intro:

It all started with me browsing Headfi and the web, and being tired of the same brands, same pics, same rig. Most of us know – A&K, L&P, N8ii.. Noble, EE, 64audio. Same stuff, usual. So I really wanted to explore and find different brands that aren’t as widely spoken of or referred to. I stumbled in my research upon couple of companies, among them was AuR Audio.

My first message to Nicholas from AuR Audio dates back to November 22 2022.
When I reached out to Nicholas, he was very friendly and we agreed to place an order as soon as they would have spots available.

Keeping in touch with Nicholas through time, I really appreciated his mature approach to business, his philosophy, but mainly his personality and great attitude. During our conversations, I found out more about the company – it consists of two men who work after hours to make the IEMs of their dreams – great sounding and accessible to people. As I understand they were, as I am, disappointed in the selection offered now and wanted something on a budget, yet High End in terms of sound.
Nicholas and Abel are in no sense newbies who entered the market without knowing the base – Sound, and how to make it right.

About that later…

Here I want to give my review on Neon pro – I’ve never heard anything similar to AuR Neon Pro, an IEM that has changed my perception of price to quality ratios and overall view on iem market – its unmatchable and unbeatable.

It's signature is first of all spacious, revealing, musical and nuanced. Not harsh, with TONs of details, great (switchable!) bass, which is punchy, focused, controlled, and reference sounding.



Sound:

In many ways this experience is unique for the market, and without knowing about it – it is hard to guess that this small brand carries such big guns.

For my review I use iBasso DX320X with the stock amp11mk2, several cables, several tips, and in details I will explore this IEM further.

What catches my attention first and primarily when I started playback with IEMs inserted is a sense of space, detail retrieval, clarity and musicality(coherent sound).

It is by no means a bassy IEM (unless you use the switch(!)), even with the switch it makes a very balanced all rounder – all sound imaging is very stable and pronounced – there’s no loss in clarity or overlap in sound.

Bear in mind – no EST driver is used, however – the highs and upper mids are so well implemented, they’re smooth and silky, they’re not trying to grab your attention like many IEMs tend to tune now (giving a bump in that register), and there’s plenty of music to hear and explore!



Tips:

I’ve tried numerous tips with Neon Pro, but best overall with them is Spiral Dots EP-FX10. I use size S to get a better deeper insertion and that feels very comfortable.

I tried Azla – all series – great but a little lacking in finesse and clarity.

Spinfits – too narrow congests the sound.

Multiple other tips have not such a great quality of silicone.

The only other same quality tips I can recommend – Canalworks Gel (also Japan), and get a little bigger size, they tend to run smaller.

Fit:

The fit is very good, I’ve tried numerous IEMs in the past year, and AuR is number 1 in usability for me, ergonomic shell is somewhat reminiscent of QDC Anole V14, but a little bit better.

Roughly one inch in length on the faceplate, one inch from the tip of the ear to the end of sound nozzle. Half inch -width of the faceplate. Nozzle is of comfortable length – not too shallow, not too deep, just right.

Connectors:

2pin just 1mm elevated from the shell, never thought this would be that comfortable – easier to plug the connector at least to me, better grip and control over 2pin system.

Cable:

Supplied is a cable that looks nice is comfortable and of sufficient length.
I’ve tried numerous cables with Neon Pro, but my most used one was EA Cadmus.

Getting into the sound needs some intro that’ll make it clearer why I say what I say.

I’m an avid audiophile, but most of my experience is mainly shared between couple of my friends, so I don’t have extensive reviews online – this is my hobby and I mainly enjoy it, plus I’m a little lazy and shy to share my thoughts with world, however…

I started back in 2012 with my first IEM being Westone 3 and dap – Cowon S9, later on I upgraded and upgraded and upgraded and by 2017 and I’ve tried it all- countless daps, headphones, earphones, if my memory doesn’t fail me some of the things I owned – Hifiman hm801, iBasso (Hibino) HDP-R10, iBasso dx100, MA9, MA8, hard to get stuff, Nakamura Corp, Toxic cables, Tralucent, Wood cone drivers and a lot more. I’ve had my share of ups and downs but I’m glad, for example that I didn’t buy Sennheiser ie800 and a lot of other stuff that was once popular (maybe hyped), but not anymore.


My very much loved IEMs previously were: Hyla CE5, Rhapsodio Solar, JVC HA-FX1100, HA-FW10000, UERR(M).

A lot has been transformed and is transforming now in the audiophile world and, I believe, that now IEMs like Trailli or some higher tier IEMs are no longer popular and have very little market because of their extremely high price and not up to date performance/tuning. People are looking for a lot more affordable and high performance tech, because that’s how progress works (just to say it here, SSD’s were quite expensive 5 years ago and earlier; VR was inaccessible by vast majority of users, etc etc etc) , of course there’s always going to be a market for Orpheus, and cables made of “unicorn hair” and rainbows, but price-wise its obvious - the main battles are happening in $1k (+- $500) region, be it daps (M6U, R6iii/R6Pro-ii ,DX320) or IEMs.

In my preference of music presentation I came to a conclusion that I love either bass boosted or flat, but musical tuning, with good pronounced instruments, a touch of soul, and not overly bright (like hd800). Yet still I can’t figure out how graphs work, how can one hear an IEM by reading a graph. That’s a Phaistos Disk for me.

Ok, now it’s time for analysis:

Stage

I want to start with the stage because for me this is a favorite part, Neon Pro somehow makes it sound Grandeur but without a “Hall” feeling, it’s like a natural spacious feeling of instruments placed around me. Very cool, feels natural.

Details / Dynamics

There’s no veil, nothing sounds off (if I compare same material both on Genelec 8010, Etymotic ER4sr, and Sennheiser ie900), all is crystal clear with a highly detailed sound image. Dynamics with speed and clarity are superb, top notch, especially minding that it's not a bright sounding IEM.

Tonality

Tonally Neon Pro is non fatiguing, neutral, in a good sense, not bright and not dark, it’s a perfect spot for a prolonged listening sessions.

Pronunciation /Harmonics

All music is very well pronounced – crystal clear, not overlapping, with the perfect amount of highs, mids and lows. All the different types of sound are harmonically balanced.

Musciality

This is one of the main qualities of all, this IEM is triple A, meaning its very very musical and enjoyable – no matter the source or cable.




BASS/MIDS/HIGHS

I find a previous model of describing sound of an earphone with only 3 dimensions a little lacking. For most current earphones this is not enough, mainly because all these aspects are at least good.


Bass Switch


Highs – higher freqs

These tracks were used to assess the higher/mid freqs reproduction:

-Passacaglia -damn good, couple versions back and forth show a great spacial feeling, excellent separation and overall great working together of 10 drivers, nothing's missing, overwhelming.
-Chant de Linos - a very special song for testing, so far i'm enjoying it, even though it's not very musical.
-Syrinx L.129 - amazing lifelike flute with lots of air.

Mids

-The futuristic sounds of Sun Ra -great soulful Jazz
-Paul Chambers Bass On Top -superb audiophile record
-Slayer – Angel of death – the intro is super clear, I can distinguish all of the instruments, the speed is supreme and on point – iem does it right
-Triium sever the hand – speed and image is superb, iem keeps up with this wonderful technical song
-Motorhead overkill – great song, amazing sound (even though the recording i have is very old)
-Oceans ate Alaska – High Horse -great
-Metallica Dyers Eve -bass and overall congruence
-Slipknot Disasterpiece -amazing harmony and coherence
-As I Lay Dying – 94 hours – incredible performance test song – as the one above, its easier to hear it once than to describe. It’s a pure raw metal with different speed that changes in the middle of the song, different instruments, voice(!)
-Miss May I – Forgive AND Forget
-Dream Theater – the dark eternal night
-Motley Crue - Red Hot -motley's red hot sounds perfect like a good old 2 channel system.

I have to notice that this IEM has great sound isolation, this is very important especially for longevity and health of our hearing, also it is very comfortable to listen on lower volume (15 out of 100 or 1/10th of total volume).
The background is pitch black with no hissing whatsoever. The only time I heard interference - was using AMP13 module on DX320X.



WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

I wanted include this part for anyone who is deciding to buy AuR Neon Pro, because I feel its important for everyone,

What can you expect as AuR customer – first off, Fedex delivery (which is fast, reliable and by itself costs $70-80 alone).
Great Fit, a snug and comfy fit that will allow you to forget you have IEM in your ears.
Sound – masterfully tuned, with no downsides. Yes, everything is in place -clarity, bass, mids and all of that works like a little orchestra that has been trained for years to make music sound as it should, and now it’s maybe a time to upgrade your DAP.
All of that makes a total package for me, I incredibly enjoyed this IEM, and can only recommend it for someone who’s been in search of clear, reference tuned, musical IEM.



To Conclude:

Aur Audio Neon Pro is a fantastic example of an overall great performer, the sound is flawless, no need for ESTs and hybrid configs. If I bought this IEM 2-3 years ago I would never look for anything else (I bought ue18+pro 3rd gen, and uerr latest gen with ipx which both were quite disappointing and in the end that brought me here, which I’m thankful for).

This IEM does excellent job in precision and crystal clear sound reproduction, it has Musicality, gentle and pure tonality, bass is DD-like with unmatched speed, songs are sounding very clear w/o harshness & plenty of details. Newer recordings (24bit-48-96-192) in Hi-Res certified on Qobuz are superb- pure joy.

Even if you’re not a fan of some genres this IEM will open many new and interesting listening opportunities, as I can’t stop repeating – Music is all about discoveries, most of our libraries are songs we’ve heard either growing up or having specific crushes on some artists, we known them by heart, and even with crappy earbuds those still are our favorite songs we can’t not love.

My love letter to Aür Audio Neon Pro


Neon Pro is my first IEM from AüR Audio, I bought it with my own money. All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after using them for over a month, 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 also do think we can never get 100% close to a live performance. I have been very passionate here, so the review got longer than what I had in mind.



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 a talent in playing. My wife has also played many instruments from string instruments to wind while has the talent part I lack.

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

My current standard in IEMs is SA6 and Penon Serial. One all BA with near perfect tonality for me, just some minor flaws. Penon Serial also has a near perfect tonality for me that is more organic and fun sounding than SA6.

Both of them have sound signatures that I can listen to almost all types of music.
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 and Cayin RU6..

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





Who is 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 Configuration still secret coming soon

They also have some other releases in the pipeline forward, a tribrid and a TOTL IEM.




So what is the Neon Pro

The first that struck me was how beautiful and well made the shell is. Craftsmanship is at a high level here, I tip my hat off to Abel. The face plate is a piece of art, at first all I wanted to do was to admire them. You can also see the internal drivers and wire through the tinted translucent shell, it looks tidy and well done.

Neon Pro is a multi driver earphone with 10 drivers for each side, all of them are balanced armatures. It also has a tuning switch to reduce/enhance the bass by 3dB, people I have talked with go both ways preferring either tuning modes. The shell can be bought only in the black with dark see through acrylic resin, they also had the blue with clear resin before.

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.



Sub Bass (2): Sonion Dual Woofer
Mid Bass (2): Sonion Dual Woofer
Midrange (2): Sonion Midrange Driver
Treble (4): Knowles Dual Tweeter
Impedance: 5Ω at 1 kHz
Sensitivity: 111 ± 1 dB at 1 kHz

They make the IEMs by demand so there is some wait time around 1-2 months to get them.

Neon Pro | My Site









Some photos from the manufacturing process of Neon Pro.










What does the Neon Pro sound like?

What made me start the IEM journey 1 year ago was that I tried to find something I would like as much as my ZMF Verite in a more portable solution. I never found anything that nails timbre, speed and detail the same way. This is the closest I have been to the Verite in an IEM, and I would even say the Neon Pro makes a few aspects better.

The tuning with switch off reminds me of the DUNU SA6, but better in all aspects. Never having heard the QDC Anole VX, I heard from a few others that it is tuned very similarly and has capability that can rival it. The overall sound is detailed, clear and natural with a slight U shape signature. No big peaks that make you wanna turn down the music or not use it for some genres. The bass switch on gives a good 3dB boost to the low end and is my preferred tuning.

My favourite pairing with the Neon Pro has been my desktop rig Topping E70 + A90D, I also like the Hiby R6 III. Another very great pairing is the Neon Pro together with the Cayin RU6. RU6 dongle was magical and is a dongle that is on my purchase list soon. As for cable, my best pairing has been the XINHS 4 core single crystal copper silver plated wire and the same in pure copper another good pairing is the DUW-03 from DUNU. Favourite tips are TRN T tips and JVC Spiral Dot. TRN T are usually too small, but here they fit perfectly because of an already very perfect ergonomic nozzle.

I also had some good times with the Feliks Audio Echo with stock tubes. This gives both the bass and mids some extra energy and smoothen some of the treble, making the sound more L shaped. Also expanding the soundstage to some degree.

I am going to use these ranges in the review:





Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?

From 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.”

The timbre is very spot on with the Neon Pro with the switch off, it is very similar to ZMF Verite. It has that ability of making a good recording sounding very true to life, or how I imagine it to be in real life. This is also very subjective as everything is in this passionate hobby. When timbre is nailed right for me I can put my whole library on random, and this works wonders here.

If I nit-pick I could have liked a tiny amount of darker treble, the good part is the tuning switch. With the switch on the bass is increased, making the tonality change better to my preference. Since the upper mids and treble is less boosted in comparison, the treble gets less noticeable. The switch does not reduce the amount, just so that is said, just how it is in comparison to the lower end of the frequency response.

The sound is neutral and warm with a slightly U shaped signature, more so with the switch on than without. Without it is actually very neutral sounding in all frequency ranges. I do not not notice any BA timbre, while for example SA6 has it to a small degree.

In the next part I will put certain tracks under bass, mids or treble. I could have put them in other categories als, but I have decided to use that track in a particular range. Also all the tracks I mention here will be used in the comparison part with other sets.





Soundstage and resolution

This is one of the first things I checked after being in shock over the good timbre. The soundstage and resolution stood out, especially the amount of detail in the music. Some sets achieve this by boosting the treble. This is not the case here, and the Neon Pro is clearly using very good drivers tuned really well.

Soundstage is more circular sounding than most IEMs, I often find IEMs to be much wider than having forwardness. This is also the case here to some degree, but the sounds from the front do appear further out than what I'm used to in IEMs.

How big the space is portrayed is very good, on a few tracks you notice how black the background is making the sound cues have a very good holographic 3D effect.




Fear Inoculum and Pneuma by Tool

The whole band is presented here, but what I often use it for is checking the resolution. Especially in the nuances of the drumming from Danney Carey. His drums are perhaps the star on the Pneuma track, so much expression. This was the first track I tested and I knew immediately that the Neon Pro was for me. It rivaled my ZMF Verite in the drumming, micro detail and all the nuances. Fear Inoculum is also a fast track with loads going on, sets with less resolution and speed makes it sound wrong.

I have nothing to complain about the resolution or soundstage, It has this amount of detail while not being overly bright as some other higher end sets out there.





Thriller by Michael Jackson

Brilliant track to test everything from bass, mids, treble, soundstage, dynamic range and detail. Looking at the imaging ability, Neon Pro does it perfectly. Lots of cues all over in the track, you get a close to perfect sense of where things appear with different depths. Michael Jackson's voice appears slightly in front of you instead of directly in the head. While the sound cues are positioned in an oval space around you. More to the sides than forward. The amount of detail you get out here is above what an average IEM pushes, it is perhaps showing more resolution than Focal Utopia 2022 and ZMF Verite both being TOTL headphones. This is the best dynamic range I have tested in an IEM so far.




Mørkedstidssanger by Ingvild Koksvik

This is an artist from Norway, she sings in Norwegian about waiting for things to get better. The amount of detail in her voice, instruments and the background voice is excellent for evaluating detail. Neon pro shows everything that is going on here, with all the dynamic expressions available in the recording. This is also a track I recently had the opportunity to hear on the expensive KEF Blade Meta speakers. And also were able to meet her in person on a HiFI show. I can wholeheartedly say that the amount of detail pushed out here rivals high end speakers in resolution. Remember I only talk about resolution here, speakers produce a whole different type of experience than IEMs.




Anabasis by Children of the Sun

Another reviewer here often uses the first track from this great album, I like to use the second track Anabasis, but both are great for this. The vocals and spatial cues are epic and also perfect for checking soundstage and microdetail. With the Neon Pro I am getting pulled into the music, the space is very large all around me. The drum here is supposed to sound big and heavy, it is an epic experience on the Neon Pro. This was also a track together with my tube amp that gave me chills, it is so big and bold.




Bass

The low end is similar in decay with the switch both on and off. The amount changes, this also gives the sound more mid-bass presence. Even with the switch off it has enough amount to make music lively.

As for how well it is done, this does sound like a dynamic driver on the faster side in decay. Lots of nuances and it never feels overdone or loose. The bass is one of the things reminding me of how Verite does it, beryllium driver hits hard and fast similar to the Neon Pro. Neon Pro does have more sub bass compared to the Verite, especially with the switch on.

Very many sets coming out have too little energy in the mid bass(bass closest to the mids), this makes instruments and vocals sound dull like there is not enough body in the music. Neon Pro does this perfectly with both the switch off or on, while switch turned on might be too much for some. Some prefer a more neutral mid bass approach, and if that is the case just to flip the switch off. Unless you need to have Harman style in the bass, then you need to look at another IEM out there.




Mezzanine by Massive Attack

This is the goto track for me to test kick drum sub bass and overall bass performance, it should be bold and impactful. When a set does this perfectly you can feel the kick, good dynamic range of the bass getting stronger and stronger further out.

I did not expect this quality of sub bass, this is where I would have believed it were a dynamic driver doing the low end. Since SA6 and RSV are not like this. There are two bass notes to listen after, the kick around 60Hz and one at 150 Hz. If the IEM is to lean on the lowest frequencies the whole track is broken, the lowest kick drum actually needs it elevated to come forward. When the tuning switch is on, it reaches the right amount of energy here, while with the switch off I find it a bit too soft.



Uh Uh by Thundercat

The bass guitar playing here is ultra fast and detailed with loads of dynamics. I have owned a bass guitar but never got around to playing it much, but I have listened to a lot of bass playing from the big masters. Uh Uh has a high level of bass guitar that is incredibly fast. I can notice all the subtle changes going up and down the different ranges. It easily keeps up with the speed and never feels congested. There is a good amount of resolution and detail here, which is perfect for a set like Neon Pro.




Mids

The mids on Neon Pro is very much to my liking having a natural timbre and it is not pushed too much forward. The upper midrange bordering into the treble has a little energy and goes very well along with my preference for most music. This also means that music that has shouty vocals or brass will not get more gentle or intense, it will be portrait as the artist intended.

Sometimes I could have liked more forward vocals, but the tuning switch does move vocals that are more dark forward to some degree.



Maggie Said by Natalie Merchant

Very emotional and intimate vocal by Natalie with good dynamic range. Her voice comes off as magical on the Neon Pro, never boring or tiresome. The guitar has a very natural tonality, and sounds very natural. I get goosebumps here, it is like I'm there listening to it live. The amount of nuance in her voice is perfect, some of this is due to the recording of course.



You Want it Darker by Leonard Cohen

Perfect for checking overall how full sounding and how forward the mids are. Leonard Cohen's husky voice has a lot of presence here and again the natural tone of his voice and the choir is represented extremely close to my standard Verite. I have nothing to complain about here and the tonality is just spot on. While the imaging of the different vocals is also strong here, Leonard is a little away in front of you. While the choir is further spaced behind and to the side from him, and the last vocal is even further out and higher up.



Now We Are Free by Hans Zimmer

This is from the last part of the movie Gladiator, it is one of my favourite soundtracks. I get goosebumps almost every time I hear it, partly due to having an association to the film. Lisa Gerrard's voice has a huge dynamic range, going from subtle to intense moments touching your soul. Perfect rendition of the track on Neon Pro, it is maybe the most beautiful way I have heard it.



Treble and Air

There is a natural amount of treble on the Neon Pro has a neutral amount with a slight forward emphasis. if this is the right amount or not you have to ask yourself, this depends very much on how sensitive you are to treble. Some need treble to be stepped back some, while others need it forward due to anatomy or just age. I would call this a nice middle ground where it is not dull or overly forward.

It has anti sibilance dip from 4-8k Hz and never gets sibilant, there is just the right amount of presence in the 4k and 8k Hz, giving off good energy that music never gets dull or dark.




The Canticle of the Sun by Sofia Gubaidulina

The whole performance is almost like a spiritual ritual happening, this is more modern music than classical and not for everyone. This is a whole performance I like to use to grasp the amount of treble cleanliness and amount of air. The high frequency is rather clean and smooth, with no intense problem areas. The amount of treble extension is very good with a good amount of air up top. I could have also evaluated the mids since there is choir going through the whole performance. But it is harder to evaluate here since it is a very special kind of performance. What I can say is that the instrument parts sound very correct.



Humming by Portishead

Several years ago I was recommended by another Head-Fi user to try this for how fatiguing the treble is. It has lots of weird elements, and it sounds almost trippy. There are lots of unpleasant sounds that are shown if the mids and treble is too forward or harsh.

The nuances in the mids with the theremin at the start is top notch. The crackle in the background is very noticeable, and I hear lots of nuance in it. I never get fatigued here, while also keeping up with all the microdetails appearing all over. Thumbs up here also.



Towards the Bending of the Light by Hart, Wolff and Hennings

This song is also a very odd one, and it has one purpose for me, checking the amount of air in a set.
Percussions are used here making harmonics up in the air region, this shows if a set got more air up top. Unless you have reduced hearing in the upper ranges,you might not notice the air detail. For me Neon Pro is above average than what I have tried in other IEMs. Thumbs up if you are a detail head, that also needs it to not be fatiguing.





Comparisons

I do wish I had more higher end models to put into this review, I am still fairly new to IEMs since I have been using headphones for all my years in audio.
Still what I have tested and also my own collection has given me a good taste for brands who have soul.
Sets that are different from the copy style so many cheap sets go under, then charge you loads for buying them.






DUNU SA6

This was my first multi balanced armature IEM, only having owned hybrids before with BA drivers. It uses 6 drivers for each side and is priced a little lower than Neon Pro. It has been my reference IEM since I got it, and also my favorite IEM for gaming. This also has a bass switch, the bass switch does appear to be more subtle compared to the Neon Pro. I prefer it with the switch on, but for this comparison I will keep it off on both sets.

First thing that stands out is resolution, the biggest improvement you get here is how resolving the whole frequency range is. You will pick up more nuances in your music, like picking up strokes on strings or how the double bass is plucked. Some said that SA6 had bad resolution, I never thought so myself. I find the SA6 above average in how resolving and capable of reproducing a correct tone. Neon Pro just takes it up to a new level and is a very good upgrade for current SA6 owners.

The timbre of SA6 is colder compared to Neon Pro, Neon Pro comes off as more natural sounding and more musical. If you have ever heard live music, you might know what I mean. It does sound more boosted specially in the bass over a neutral or Harman tuned set.

SA6 made me understand that BA can sound closer to dynamic drivers for its low end. It still had something that is off, but it is more subtle. If I had never known the Neon Pro was only balanced armatures, I would have been certain this was a dynamic driver. Just one of the faster material dynamic drivers like how beryllium decay faster, perfect impactful low end that gives drums in metal or rock justice. There is also a different amount of bass, more warmth and impact to the overall bass on Neon Pro. While sub bass frequencies are very close in amount and how deep it goes.

Mids on both sets are very smooth and neutral, but the resolving capability of Neon Pro takes the upper hand. Upper mids have a little more energy in Neon Pro over SA6, I prefer this and often find sets missing some energy here boring. Both male and female vocals are smoother sounding while also having more definition over SA6. This also goes for brass, more in control, more energy and never shouty on Neon Pro. Both handle brass well, but I give the edge to Neon Pro sounding more correct and energetic.

The treble is more resolving on Neon Pro, same for upper harmonics. They have different peaking, and for me SA6 can be bothersome on a few test tracks, while the Neon Pro does it better. I do believe it is because the treble peaks at 7k on SA6, while it is at 8k Hz on Neon Pro.

Soundstage is always hard to evaluate, SA6 has a little over average amount of wideness and depth. Not far out of your head, but not totally closed in your head either.

I read once someone said that Neon Pro has no soundstage. This guy needs to check his ears, while not exaggerating it is more out of your head than in your head feeling. it is also quite a circle of sound, not how some sets have a wide stage but no depth. Both do imaging very well, the extra detail in Neon Pro gives it the upper hand.

There are two things the SA6 does better, first is being the most comfortable IEM out there. The shell is very small and ergonomic with just the perfect length of the nozzle. The Neon Pro is rather large in comparison but still very comfortable and ergonomic. The other point is in accessories and how the package is, DUNU is almost class leading out there in this. It comes with an extremely good cable, the DUW-03 that is also modular, 3 sets of tips and a nice storage case. But you do pay for that premium.

I am not saying the SA6 is a bad IEM, as I like it very much. This just takes it a step further. And if I would have used the bass switch on, there would be no doubt I prefer the Neon Pro much more.



ISN EST50

EST50 is a guilty pleasure IEM for me, as I know it is not correct having this much boosted sub bass. But it is a lot of fun and addictive. What makes the EST50 much better than most so called basshead IEMs, is that it has better control not bleeding much into the mids. The mid bass is in much more control than other basshead sets, while not being increased too much.

This IEM is a Tribrid, meaning it has 3 types of driver technologies. Dynamic driver for the bass, BA for mids/treble and EST drivers for ultra high frequencies. It has an energetic and smooth sound with a sub bass that is more on the extreme side. I am going to use the bass switch on with Neon Pro for this comparison.

If I try and listen to Thriller comparing them against each other the low end and bass actually appear very similar. I tried to analyze where the frequency range of the bass is, it is never in the lowest range. So both sets are similar in amount and not boosted too much with either. What differs here is the decay of the bass, it is slower and looser in EST50. While at the same time the detail in the bass notes is perhaps slightly more detailed on EST50.

When checking a true sub bass track like the Mezzanine you notice some differences here. The amount is more and looser on the EST50, and it seems to be in more control on Neon Pro. Neon Pro also sounds to me more natural in the decay since EST50 is on the slower side, and also the upper bass kick hits harder on Neon Pro.

The EST50 is more like a stereo speaker setup with a 12 inch open vented subwoofer backing it up that is also turned up some, Neon Pro is more like a high end modern speaker setup with big drivers giving fast and punchy but with elevated low end.

Vocals are very similar, it can appear slightly warmer on EST50 but it is small. When listening to a track with only instruments it is not as easy to differentiate the mids. It is first when entering the upper part of the mids that you notice they are less forward on EST50, this you can also see at FQ measurement of EST50 since it has a gentle Pina Gain. This also makes the EST50 very safe if you're sensitive to upper midrange energy. Neon Pro has a more natural amount of upper mid range and does acoustic music more justice.

Treble is similar in amount, but what's weird is that even with EST50s EST drivers the amount of upper treble is more detailed and forward on Neon Pro. It is also smoother on Neon pro especially in the lower treble. For air I can not really differentiate them, it can be that ISN have not implemented the EST drivers well enough. Or that Neon Pro is just that good.
Overall resolution is good with both, I do put the Neon Pro a step ahead. I do notice more detail especially in the mids and treble.

Soundstage is more oval on EST50. When sounds are in front of you, it is shown very close. Very similar to other IEMs, the sides on the other hand are very deep. There is also very good layering that is above most sets. Neon Pro has the same amount of depth to the sides but can also portray more depth in front. Especially on Anastasis album the sense of space is more vast on Neon Pro, there is more blackness to the background making it seem endless.

I love both sets and I am not getting rid of the EST50. It is not as versatile, but it is very good with most of the music I like. While a few tracks like Mørketidssanger that already have boosted bass will get too much on EST50 while Neon Pro handles it better. What EST50 excels at is electronica music or watching movies where you get a really good sub bass rumble.



Penon Serial

Before I tested the Neon Pro, Serial was my favorite. It could even have had a higher cost and I would have called it a steal. So for the $300, it is a unique and special IEM that people should try and listen to at some point. I believe there is a huge chance you would buy one after that.

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.

I will use the tuning switch on here because they get a similar amount of low end.

If the Neon Pro is similar to the timbre of ZMF Verite the Serial is more similar to the ZMF Aeolus. Both are well tuned but give different flavor, mids are warmer, and the treble is darker with Penon Serial. The weight of the notes are thicker on Serial, Neon Pro is lighter. But still Neon Pro is closer to Serial than the DUNU SA6.

As I mentioned in the EST50 comparison, the Neon Pro is similar to big modern speakers with fast decay in the low end. Bass is well extended in both sets, while perhaps having a small amount more mid bass in the Penon Serial. It is very similar, especially with the tuning switch on. This is also where I applaud Neon Pro with how natural the BA bass is. I like both sets for how they produce bass, with its slower decay and more mid bass the Serial does come off a more bold old school style.

Mids are more forward on the Serial all the way from lower part til the upper part of the mids. Both styles work and both sound good with instruments and vocals. On a few brass focused jazz tracks the Serial has more fatiguing energy while the Neon Pro handled it smoother.

Treble is more relaxed and less detailed on the Serial, while the Neon Pro has crystal clear treble. The Neon Pro does also have more detailed air.

Soundstage on the Serial is also very good and has more forwardness than most IEMs, while at the same time being wide. Both do it well, this also goes for imaging. Neon Pro on the track Anabasis has a more vast room, it is more endless in depth. What I have noticed is that sets that are darker can often feel more closed in here.

Overall the timbre of Serial is slightly dark with great bass and mids, while the Neon Pro is more balanced with a slight U shaped sound. Both sets compliment each other and it is great to own both, but the Neon Pro does take the first place.



A while ago when I attended a HiFi show, I got to experience many great speakers. The photos above show speakers from Revival Audio and Focal. One much more old school, mimicking the 70-80s bold sound. The other from Focal is a faster speaker while also being huge sounding, but it comes off crisper and more modern. Both were more than great, but portrayed the sound differently. I could have owned both and be happy. The Serial and Neon Pro can both play my whole library in excellence with different approaches.



ZMF Verite

As I have mentioned the ZMF Verite throughout the review, I feel like it deserves a little comparison in the end. This is very hard due to them being an IEM and a Headphone, but I will give it a go. A IEM will never be able to portray sound the same way as an headphone, the same way a headphone will not do it the same as a speaker setup. But they can still have a timbre that is comparable.

ZMF Verite is one of the top models from ZMF, it is a headphone costing around 4 times more than the Neon Pro. When I got my Verite all my lust for other headphones disappeared and I have tried to find the same in IEMs without luck, that is until now.

ZMF has its house sound, and the Verite with Universal Suede pads is very close to that house sound. For me this is a natural sounding timbre making instruments and vocals appear natural with a hint of warmth and extra body. Neon Pro has that same definition to me, with maybe a little more body to the low end and is slightly more relaxed in the treble.

Bass on the Neon Pro is thicker and more impactful with the switch on, while with the switch off they are about the same. The amount of detail in bass notes is better on the Neon Pro, while the impact is different. I believe this is due to one being inside the ear and the other hitting a bigger area moving more air. The Sub bass extension is a clear win to Neon Pro with both switch on and off.

Mids shows perfect instrument playback on the Verite with a slight forward emphasis, the Neon pro is more neutral in the amount in comparison. Both have mids that are natural, and sound real with instruments and vocals. Brass instruments in the middle of the mids have more energy in the Verite which can make some tracks tiresome, while the same track can be enjoyed without fatigue on the Neon Pro.

Female vocals are near perfect on both while male vocals with the tuning switch on are actually a small amount more forward on the Neon Pro. This is probably because more mid bass is coming into the mids, without switch they are about the same. One thing I forgot when going through these comparisons, the Verite gets more forward in the mids due to my tube amp. It is slight, but it does affect it to some degree. My Verite is married to the Feliks Audio Echo so it is appropriate.

The treble has almost the same amount of energy and forwardness but a small amount more forward on the Verite. While the air and extension is the best on Verite, I am a person who is not very concerned about air, so it is not a problem for me. Going back to Hummingbird by Portishead, the Verite is somewhat unpleasant, but the Neon Pro is okay. This might actually be due to the amount of upper harmonics and the slightly more forward treble.
Soundstage is where the Verite wins, it is clearly more expansive. As for detail in the soundstage it is closer, with imaging capability being about the same



Conclusion on Neon Pro

I started the review calling it a “Love letter" in the title. I almost felt bad writing it all since everything comes off as positive. The sound coming from the Neon Pro is perfect for my taste, it has all the technicalities while still having a musical soul. It also has high-end capabilities in its resolution and soundstage.

I bought this blind after having talked with one of the owners. I was hoping for a better set than SA6, but I got more than that. What I didn't expect was that I would find my ZMF in an IEM.

Am I happy? I am more than happy, the honeymoon period never ended with this set.

After talking with some fellow owners of the Neon Pro and other AüR IEMs, they all say the same thing: The tuning Abel can do is on a master level, while Nicholas' support for its customers is also legendary.

Congrats AüR, I do hope you will move forward so that even more people notice your excellence. It is never easy starting up a new brand, especially when you want to stand on your own feet. What you are achieving here is well worth all the hard work.

I will end this with a modified quote from one of my favourite movies Ratatouille:

In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and themselves to our judgment.

It is difficult to imagine more humble folks than those creating Neon Pro, who are, in this critic's opinion, nothing less than the finest makers out there.

I will be returning to AüR soon, hungry for more.

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 Neon Pro get a 5.