AFUL Acoustics Performer 5
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Review Of The Aful Performer 5
Introduction
Although I have no other disclosed information about their past or was able to uncover any other information about the firm, AFUL Acoustics is a new company that was created in recent years and is based in China. The unit I will be reviewing will be their most recent release. However, it must be acknowledged that these represent a novel technology that could affect the audio industry. Let's find out for sure if it does, but first, let's clear up a few things.
Disclaimer
*Since this unit tour was organised by the beautiful people at HiFiGo, I am grateful to them. And as I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as "Performer5."
*I am using different Ear-tips and Cable for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Performer5 based on their performance, even though I will convey some thoughts over its physical and aesthetics properties.
Specification
One dynamic driver and four balance armature drivers make up the five-driver hybrid configuration used by the Performer 5. The drivers are all created in-house by the AFUL Acoustics. The dynamic driver, in my opinion, is responsible for the low frequencies, while the other four balancing armatures handle the midrange and treble. This driver utilises three recently developed technologies, including
1. EnvisionTEC High-Precision 3D Printed Acoustic Structure.
2. RLC Network Frequency Divison Correction Technology.
3. High-Damping Air-Pressure Balance System
I understand that the business created a customised acoustic tube structure with a bass tube that is 60mm ultra-long and ultra-thin and a mid-bass duct structure that is 30mm thick to improve bass performance. In addition to this, they also created a crossover so that the 5 drivers could operate smoothly over their preferred reaction. A method for alleviating air pressure in the shell that improves and adjusts the texture and slam of the bass. This cutting-edge IEM was made by AFUL Acoustic with significant time and financial investment. Regarding the faceplate, it is reminiscent of the Thieaudio Monarch Mark 2 but is much smaller and more comfier. The premium cable terminates with a 3.5mm straight plug and two pins. Additionally available are 6 pairs of assorted eartips in a spherical metal container. Technical specifications include a 35 ohm impedance and a 110 dB sensitivity. 5Hz to 35kHz is the range of the frequency response.
Sound
Performer 5 is a neutral tuned IEM with a bass boost. The tuning itself is very interesting according to the frequency response. The bass sounds more like a subwoofer but not in a rumble way where as the mid-range is very immaculate and spot on, the treble is very extensive and crisp for a pair like this. The overall response is very sharp and analytical, by sharp I meant more precise and clean sounding. For the price they're being offered is really a steal. This IEM really outdid whatever I have listened to in this price category, claiming this on from perspective measures. The sound is not warm or soft but hits with details and clarity. I understand the way the AFUL Acoustics have implemented the drivers in this IEM using their methods and technologies is impressive. I must also allow myself to call out that the tuning is a little off while listening to bass, sometimes I fear that the bass comes out more when tackling the bass response, when the overall mix is in play the bass steps down. It does feel like all drivers are trying to outdo each other. Also the use of such BA's does have a negative impact, their is definite BA timbre I suspected. Well let's dig in to find out more.
Treble
This IEM's treble is the greatest so far since it is expansive, sharp, and full of fine details. In works in this range, the upper treble has a significant approach to the notes. The vocals are more polished, richer, and appropriately delivered. I have occasionally noticed that the vocals are a touch sibilant, which could eventually seep across this area. The instruments sound metallic but not artificial or strange; rather, they sound a little lean. The sounds of the instruments, such as the cymbal crashes, are piercing yet not hot or peaky. I have to admit that the top treble has a really strong sensation of airiness and enormous expansion. The lower mid range, however, has a lot of acting. The lower treble has a lively, informative, and distinguishing quality. The vocals are direct and presentative; they don't deceive or stifle. Even the guitars don't sound this clear or informative, yet these instruments shine. The treble region's overall presentation is broader, crisper, and airier with sporadic sibilance.
Mid Range
The mid range is fascinating and thorough. The singers and instruments benefit greatly from the rich upper mid range's ability to mimic the lower treble. The voices stand out in the mix and are emotive. Although they are lively and rounded, the instruments blend well with the vocals and sound general. Arriving in the lower mid range becomes critical, thus they occasionally sound meaty and other times hollow. However, I did find that it was generally quite well balanced with voice presence. The lower mid-range is revealing rather than drab or reserved. The only problem I have is that because it is less dense, the sound is frequently lean in the upper frequencies. The Moondrop Blessing 2 caused me the same problem, except it resonated more strongly with higher frequencies. I have to concur that the playful mid range seems strong and personal. It does have a less immersive aspect and sounds quite forward and vibrant. Overall, the mid range has a rich, expressive, and personal tone.
Bass
The bass has excellent characteristics and is tightly regulated. It sounds punchy and slams wonderfully, hitting hard enough to enjoy. Although the bass driver does provide a subwoofer-like sound, it is not overtly audible in the mix. Sub bass is given more attention than mid bass. The mid bass does not flow into the lower mid-range or bloat over. The bass notes are more detailed than dense and more distinctive than present. It sounds more lively than the bass that comes out of a balancing armature. Every other instrument sounds clear, and the deep notes of the vocals have greater knowledge and presence, which shows nice subtleties. The sub bass is well-rumbled and has a long extension. When the bass performs alone, the presence quickly and broadly establishes itself. The bass texture conjures just the right emotions. The bass driver glows brightly no matter what is thrown at it. The bass region is presented overall as being very well regulated, clear, and deep.
Technical Performance
The technological side is quite impressive, and in my opinion, using such technologies has benefits beyond just the technical. Despite the stage's limited width, the image is excellent, with strong response separation. The resolution is excellent, and the detail recovery is superb. I didn't anticipate such drivers' nature to deliver this pace and quickness.
Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation
The stage is holographically projected in three dimensions, although not in a very vast or distant manner. The stage isn't very large or roomy in my opinion, but it does provide ample room for performances. The sound image is clear, which is similar to the blessing 2 in my opinion. The separation is excellent as well; I can quickly identify the music's direction and there is plenty of room for each component of the sound to breathe.
Speed & Resolution
This is without a doubt the best-resolving IEM I have ever tested at this price point with such flawless details. For an IEM with such a mixed configuration, the attack and decay are surprisingly good, with a quick tempo in both the attack and decay of notes. While also taking into account the fact that I am listening to a BA&DD IEM and not a planar, this IEM totally destroys its rivals on the basis of technical qualities alone.
Sound Impressions
Sources
Tempotec V6 - With Performer 5 and V6, I could hear a richer and more complete rendition of any song I put on. There were many, fine intricacies in the treble. The mid-range was very forward, and the bass has excellent power and rumbling while being tightly controlled. The setting was really detailed and open. I thought the V6 was the ideal complement for the V6 since it made it more neutral and less artificial. The sound was in line with my preferences, which are warmer and more balanced.
Questyle M15 - The M15 and Performer 5 worked well together, however the sibilance was considerably more audible. The presentation as a whole included far better details and response control. While the already expressive midrange got more vivid, the bass become more textured. The extensive nature of it didn't affect the treble, but the quality did. However, I did notice that the tone started to sound completely analytical. The slim tone was muted by the bass rumble or slam, which was audible in the instruments and vocals alike. However, the sound emanating from the queue through M15 was far superior and had more detail and definition.
iFi Hipdac - When paired with the hipdac, the mid range became more energetic and expressive, with less treble extention and a bland presentation. Although the mid bass was a little raised, the presentation overall wasn't to my taste. It gave the lower mid range more character. The texture of the bass was altered. With worse separation and imagery, the stage became more congested. Clarity suffered but added more musicality to the mix.
Tracks Used
Curtis Mayfield - Pusherman
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
Boston - More Than A Feeling
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere(Remastered)
Toto - Africa
The Police - Every Breath You Take
George Benson - Affirmation
Daft Punk - Doin' It Right
Daft Punk - Derezzed
Daft Punk - Tron Legacy (End Titles)
GOJIRA - Amazonia
The Mars Volta - Inertiatic ESP
Fergie - Glamorous
50 Cent - In Da Club
Jay Z - Holy Grail
Erbes - Lies
Nitti Gritti - The Loud
Juelz - Inferno
Conclusion
In summary, this IEM has the ability to dominate its rivals because to its superb technical prowess. I firmly feel that whatever technologies were employed to create this IEM were successful. The entire response is concise, accurate, and comprehensive in every way. The tuning may not have been to my liking, but I can say these are a game changer in this price range. These are simple to recommend to anyone looking for a subwoofer-like sound without compromising the actual essence of the entire presentation. Anyone will be happy with this set, whether they are a treble head or a bass head.
szore
Got mine yesterday and I adore them!
EQbumb
How is this set compared to S12?
Founded back in 2018, AFUL Acoustics has kept a precise focus to develop high-end performing in-ear monitors at affordable prices. Together with its innovative R&D team, AFUL has got many different patents under its name. They have adhered to the simple concept of "Only Real Progress in Technology can bring Tangible benefits to the Consumer”, in short, they have aimed to develop different technologies that benefit the end consumer. AFUL Acoustics was founded to bring a change to the HiFi audio industry with class-leading innovative IEMs.
A few weeks ago, they came up with their new $200 challenger in the market with Performer 5. Aful Performer 5 is a brand new five-driver hybrid set of in-ear monitors. The IEM houses a custom dynamic driver with four balanced armature drivers, The dynamic driver handles the powerful lower end, while 2 Balanced Armature drivers handle the Midrange and the other Two handle the Treble.
Before beginning the review, I’d like to thank HiFiGo for the review tour of the Aful Performer 5. All thoughts and impressions are my own and not influenced by anyone. The only thing that affects my judgment is my personal listening preferences, I like good sub-bass with a thick midrange and sparkly, energetic highs. You can check more details on the HiFiGo link below.
https://hifigo.com/products/aful-performer-5
Design, Build, and Specs:-
For Performer 5, Aful Acoustics has gone with a Resin Shell. The shells are beautiful, solid, and lightweight. I like Resin Shell iem because of their Custom IEM like fit and they way the shell looks like glass. The faceplace reminds me of the Thieaudio Monarch MKII or the surface of Mars. The shell and nozzle is one piece which I like as metal nozzle has the tendency to break or sometimes the glue comes off.
As for accessories, it comes with 3 pair of Wide bore and 3 pair of narrow bore Eartips, a black clam shell like carrying case made of metal with foam lining inside it with Aful logo on it. The included cable is a 8-core hybrid cable which to me looks like SPC and silver but could be complete SPC but overall it’s a high quality cable, It’s soft and uses standard 2-pin 0.78mm connectors and a 3.5mm termination.
As I said, I like Resin shell due to their custom IEM like fit, you just need to find the right size eartips. They are very comfortable to use for prolonged hours of use and put zero strain in or behind the ears.
Technical Specs:-
Power Requirements
Performer 5 is quite efficient and sounds decent straight out of a Smartphone, with my Xduoo Link2 Bal was able to power it with just 15-20 percent of power, I also tried it with My Zendac V2 and it improved the overall sound by a margin. I’ve most of my testing with Zendac V2 and it was providing the best sound signature and Sound quality
Sound Quality:-
To start with, I find the Performer 5 to have a very Balanced tuning to it with a hint of sub-bass boost, Clean vocals, and precise instruments, and the thing that impressed me the most on these was the imaging and how speed the bass response was. The coherency on these is amazing, sounding very organic with minimal to no BA timbre.
The bass on these is balanced with a hint of boost in the sub bass which adds to the over experience, it’s detailed and transitions are speedy and does not interfere with the mids at all. Mid-bass on these is fast, precise, and got a lot of texture to it.
Mids in Performer 5 are a little recessed in the Male vocal region but female vocals sound amazing with good separation to it. The upper-mids on these is smooth and never get edgy.
The treble on these is smooth and comfortable sound, Could feel a little dark at times but still has a little below average airyness.
Soundstage on these is decent but imaging is very precise on these, you can easily identify multiple instruments in the stage.
Clarity is good but the details retrieval is decent but below average for this category Category.
This is a very versatile IEM with a very safe tuning which will suite most genres but will primarily suite Electronic, EDM, R&B but not very suitable for Vocal centric Tracks.
Comparisons
Aful Performer 5 VS Tripowin Olina SE:-
Olina is among the best-tuned Single DD IEM in the market under the $100 mark and sounds more Natural Compared to Performer 5, here Performer 5 deliver Better bass response, faster transient response and a wider soundstage. Both sound great for their price, here Olina SE is a better Value for money !!
Aful Performer 5 VS SeeAudio Yume II
Aful Performer 5 does everything right, Decent stage, Good sub bass response, clear vocals and smooth treble but for me Yume II takes the cake her with overall a better sounding package with better vocal presence, treble spackle, huge soundstage and an overall more engaging sound.
Aful Performer 5 VS Tanchjim Hana V2
Hana V2 is a Single DD IEM and I personally love my Hana V2, for me, it’s the best-sounding IEM under $200, the Performer 5 edges Hana V2 in terms of overall technicalities but falls short in terms of tone and timbre.
Aful Performer 5 VS RaptGo Hook X
RaptGo Hook X here packs an overall more engaging sound with it’s wide soundstage and precise instrument placement along with an overall smooth sound signature. Performer 5 here presents a tighter bass response but fall short in every other aspect specially in detail retrieval.
Conclusion:-
With Performer 5, Aful has done a great job, providing a solid experience in terms of sound and comfort. It may fall a little short in terms of VFM factor but still pretty solid with Amasing Subbass response and an overall smooth fatigue free experience. If you want something with amazing comfort and smooth sound signature with decent technical performance for the price, Performer 5 is a good option.
A few weeks ago, they came up with their new $200 challenger in the market with Performer 5. Aful Performer 5 is a brand new five-driver hybrid set of in-ear monitors. The IEM houses a custom dynamic driver with four balanced armature drivers, The dynamic driver handles the powerful lower end, while 2 Balanced Armature drivers handle the Midrange and the other Two handle the Treble.
Before beginning the review, I’d like to thank HiFiGo for the review tour of the Aful Performer 5. All thoughts and impressions are my own and not influenced by anyone. The only thing that affects my judgment is my personal listening preferences, I like good sub-bass with a thick midrange and sparkly, energetic highs. You can check more details on the HiFiGo link below.
https://hifigo.com/products/aful-performer-5
Design, Build, and Specs:-
For Performer 5, Aful Acoustics has gone with a Resin Shell. The shells are beautiful, solid, and lightweight. I like Resin Shell iem because of their Custom IEM like fit and they way the shell looks like glass. The faceplace reminds me of the Thieaudio Monarch MKII or the surface of Mars. The shell and nozzle is one piece which I like as metal nozzle has the tendency to break or sometimes the glue comes off.
As for accessories, it comes with 3 pair of Wide bore and 3 pair of narrow bore Eartips, a black clam shell like carrying case made of metal with foam lining inside it with Aful logo on it. The included cable is a 8-core hybrid cable which to me looks like SPC and silver but could be complete SPC but overall it’s a high quality cable, It’s soft and uses standard 2-pin 0.78mm connectors and a 3.5mm termination.
As I said, I like Resin shell due to their custom IEM like fit, you just need to find the right size eartips. They are very comfortable to use for prolonged hours of use and put zero strain in or behind the ears.
Technical Specs:-
- Impedance: 35Ω.
- Sensitivity: 110dB@1kHz.
- Frequency Response Range: 5Hz-35kHz.
- Passive Noise Reduction: 26dB.
- Five-driver hybrid configuration.
- 1 Powerful Dynamic Driver for lower-end.
- Four High-Performance Customised Balanced Armature Drivers(2 for mids, 2 for highs).
- EnvisionTEC High-Precision 3D Printed Acoustic Tube Structure.
- High-Damping Air-Pressure Balance System.
- RLC Network Frequency Division Correction Technology.
Power Requirements
Performer 5 is quite efficient and sounds decent straight out of a Smartphone, with my Xduoo Link2 Bal was able to power it with just 15-20 percent of power, I also tried it with My Zendac V2 and it improved the overall sound by a margin. I’ve most of my testing with Zendac V2 and it was providing the best sound signature and Sound quality
Sound Quality:-
To start with, I find the Performer 5 to have a very Balanced tuning to it with a hint of sub-bass boost, Clean vocals, and precise instruments, and the thing that impressed me the most on these was the imaging and how speed the bass response was. The coherency on these is amazing, sounding very organic with minimal to no BA timbre.
The bass on these is balanced with a hint of boost in the sub bass which adds to the over experience, it’s detailed and transitions are speedy and does not interfere with the mids at all. Mid-bass on these is fast, precise, and got a lot of texture to it.
Mids in Performer 5 are a little recessed in the Male vocal region but female vocals sound amazing with good separation to it. The upper-mids on these is smooth and never get edgy.
The treble on these is smooth and comfortable sound, Could feel a little dark at times but still has a little below average airyness.
Soundstage on these is decent but imaging is very precise on these, you can easily identify multiple instruments in the stage.
Clarity is good but the details retrieval is decent but below average for this category Category.
This is a very versatile IEM with a very safe tuning which will suite most genres but will primarily suite Electronic, EDM, R&B but not very suitable for Vocal centric Tracks.
Comparisons
Aful Performer 5 VS Tripowin Olina SE:-
Olina is among the best-tuned Single DD IEM in the market under the $100 mark and sounds more Natural Compared to Performer 5, here Performer 5 deliver Better bass response, faster transient response and a wider soundstage. Both sound great for their price, here Olina SE is a better Value for money !!
Aful Performer 5 VS SeeAudio Yume II
Aful Performer 5 does everything right, Decent stage, Good sub bass response, clear vocals and smooth treble but for me Yume II takes the cake her with overall a better sounding package with better vocal presence, treble spackle, huge soundstage and an overall more engaging sound.
Aful Performer 5 VS Tanchjim Hana V2
Hana V2 is a Single DD IEM and I personally love my Hana V2, for me, it’s the best-sounding IEM under $200, the Performer 5 edges Hana V2 in terms of overall technicalities but falls short in terms of tone and timbre.
Aful Performer 5 VS RaptGo Hook X
RaptGo Hook X here packs an overall more engaging sound with it’s wide soundstage and precise instrument placement along with an overall smooth sound signature. Performer 5 here presents a tighter bass response but fall short in every other aspect specially in detail retrieval.
Conclusion:-
With Performer 5, Aful has done a great job, providing a solid experience in terms of sound and comfort. It may fall a little short in terms of VFM factor but still pretty solid with Amasing Subbass response and an overall smooth fatigue free experience. If you want something with amazing comfort and smooth sound signature with decent technical performance for the price, Performer 5 is a good option.
szore
Waiting for my delivery. Disconcerting about what you said about the Hook X, I sold the Hook because as great as it is it was too 'safe'...and you think the Hook beats out the P5? oh, boy... I hope I like these now! Great review, also!
Scarlets Eyes
please what is the weight of the box ? it is important for my delivery costs
AFUL Audio is creating a crazy vibe all around. Everyone is praising the all-new Performer5, a five-driver hybrid set of in-ear monitors from a new name called AFUL. The product page and all the information about AFUL Audio and Performer5 are filled with all the different research and patents that AFUL Audio has done over the past few years. Performer5 is a debuting product for the brand in the international market, and from all the hype all around, I am pretty sure it has already been a success. I have spent a good amount of time with the pair, been using it as my daily driver for the past few days(got it 10-12 days back). Today, I feel like sharing my bit of impressions on the set as well, so without wasting any more time let’s begin. First a little intro of the brand.
AFUL Audio:-
AFUL Audio is a name that has recently emerged in the international market. But from my understanding, they have been a little bit active in the mainland China local market. According to the Brand’s biography, they were founded back in 2018, and always focused on developing new technologies to bring high-end level sound performance to budget IEMs. Have they succeeded or not, we will find out with the all-new Performer5 which is their debut product in the international market. It’s a 5-driver hybrid set of in-ear monitors that features a classic combination of a dynamic driver and four balanced armature drivers on each side. It’s a lot of introduction, you can know more about the pair and brand on their website and official product page on HiFiGo.
Short Disclaimer:-
A short disclaimer before I begin, this unit of Performer5 was provided to me by HiFiGo as a part of a review tour in my country, there’s no monetary benefit involved in this transaction. You can be assured, all the impressions and points made in this review are completely my own based on my own experience with the pair. At the time of this write-up, Performer5 has officially been launched priced at 219.99$ available on HiFiGo.
https://hifigo.com/products/aful-performer-5(Hifigo)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN45CJX4/aful+performer+5/(Amazon)
Unboxing & Accessories:-
AFUL Performer 5 has got a simple black package with a white printed cover on it. The white cover on has technical info and a frequency graph on the back while an image of the pair along with branding and some technical information on the front side of the outer sleeve. Inside I have the pair sitting firmly into its foam cutouts alongside a round metallic carry case, which is pretty similar to what we have with See Audio IEMs(Bravery, Yume Midnight, etc). The stock cable of Performer5 is inside this box only. The package also includes about six pairs of silicone ear tips. There are no memory foam tips in the package. The cable here is 3.5mm single-ended.
Package Contents:-
>AFUL Performer5 IEMs.
>Metallic Carry Case.
>2-pin cable with 3.5mm termination.
>Six pairs of silicone ear tips.
Design & Build Quality:-
Despite housing a five-driver hybrid setup, the ear shells of Performer5 are quite small. I won’t just call them small, they are rather compact in their form factor. Entirely made up of black resin, the shells have magma-styled face covers which are unique to each unit. The face covers match exactly with Thieaudio Monarch MK2’s face covers. Just because of their looks, I used to call them the baby Monarch MK2. They are quite lightweight and very well-made. It adopts standard 2-pin connectors compatible with 0.78mm 2-pin cables. The included stock cable is also quite good, it’s lightweight and comfortable to use with the pair. IMO the design of the AFUL Performer5 is beautiful and it is paired with its ergonomic, lightweight design.
Fit & Isolation:-
Fit-wise, the AFUL Performer5 sits comfortably into my ears, although the stock tips are pretty meh. I find it to fit me well with SpinFit W1 and Azla SednaEarFit Light ear tips. Soundwise the Stock Tips feel a little boomy in the lower end as they have short and narrow nozzles.
Driving the Performer5:-
Performer5 is an easy-to-drive pair, it doesn’t take a lot of power to sound its best. For my critical listening, I have listened to the pair with three of my primary sources HiBy RS2, Shanling M7, and Tempotec V6. IMO the best pairing is with Shanling M7 and Tempotec V6, with the RS2, the synergy was not the best. It had a little boom in the lower end and also the treble felt a little soft(with the RS2). M7 and V6 have much better clarity and crispness to the Treble region with the Performer5.
Sound Impressions:-
Performer5 has got a neutral-ish sound with bass boosted signature. The bass is quite prominent in the output, especially the sub-bass response. I personally feel the pair sounds like a compact sub-woofer delivering a thunderous rumble in the lower-end region. The mid-bass also has a good slam in the output, but I got my mind drooling over the sub-bass presence of the pair. Although I must add, the bass is a little loose at times but surely it slams with full authority. The lower-end presence, even with such heavy slam is quite clean and extends well into the sub-bass depths. Might call it a Bass Head IEM at a budget for heavy bass lovers.
As soon as we transition into the midrange, we get a smooth, rich midrange presentation with presents lovely vocals. Vocals have got a good body to them, they sound rich and lush. Upper mids are slightly pronounced so they create a good impact with Pop and Vocal Centric songs. Lower-mids retrieve good details and show good texture to instruments such as acoustic guitars, and pianos in their midrange. Lovely midrange presentation imo!! It has better tonality than Yume 2 which I find to have a little metallic touch.
Treble is where things take a slight detour for my preferences. Performer5 although extends well in the Treble region, but the overall tonality here is a little soft and dark. Please don’t get me wrong here, it would be suitable for people who are sensitive to harsh treble, but me, I need some punch, some more crispness in the treble region. But that’s just my preference. As per Performer5, the pair maintains good clarity and resolution in the high frequencies. It even extends well enough as well and also have a smooth dark tone.
Dynamically, Performer5 has got an immersive soundstage with better depth than width or height. No way it’s intimate, but it’s not super wide either. It creates an immersive listening experience for me. For a comparison point here, Yume 2 has a wider stage, but I find Performer5 to have better stage depth, a more 3D feeling here. Air on the stage is decent, and instruments are well-separated, especially in the mid-range segment. Macrodynamics are more pronounced on the set rather than micro dynamics. Detail level is decent enough, overall I am kinda impressed by its fun and sub-woofer kinda sound. I have enjoyed the set thoroughly throughout my auditioning period. Honestly want to keep it for a few more days, but the reviewers ahead are waiting. TBH I don’t care much about all the technologies that the brand advertises, I just enjoy listening to the Performer5’s smooth, Bassy, inoffensive sound.
Some Track Examples:-
Bad Guy by Billie Ellish:-
Man the Performer5 rumbles so hard in this track that I felt my heart vibrating inside of me lol. I personally find the sub-bass of Performer5 to be the very best in this price segment. Like literally drooling, and Bad Guy is one of my favorite Bass heavy tracks for this.
Limit to your Love by James Blake:-
When the bass drops in this track, Performer5 kicks me out of my couch. Not to mention the clarity midrange maintains during the vocals part. I find Performer5 to be an absolute stunner for Bass-focused genres.
Hotel California by Eagles(Hell Freezes Over):-
Pretty decent clarity, and the acoustic intro sounds pretty good on the Performer5. Although the instrument notes feel a little hefty here may be due to the more focused sub-bass response. But overall a good experience.
Dark Necessities by RHCP:-
Performer5 keeps up with the pace of this track, although the instruments sound a little on the softer side. Overall, the speed, and punch are maintained in this track and so is the energy. Vocals are presented with complete clarity even with all the drums and other instruments around.
AFUL Performer5 vs See Audio Yume II:-
I happen to have both the Yume II and Performer5 with me, and it’s a good fight between them. Here’s my take on them.
>Performer5 has more slam, and more depth to the lower end, Yume II sounds tighter.
>Yume II tonally has a little metallic tinge to it, Performer5 sounds more natural to me.
>Yume II delivers more clarity and a crispier treble, Performer5 sounds dark and inoffensive.
>Soundstage width is a bit better on the Yume II while the Performer5 sounds more 3D and deep.
Overall, Yume II feels livelier while Performer5 sounds punchier. Each of these will have its own use cases with Yume II sounding better for Rock, and other fast genres while Performer5 delivers awesomeness to vocal lovers and hip-hop lovers.
Final Words:-
I know the Performer5 has a lot of hype all around, and in my opinion, it sounds pretty good too. It delivers quality a powerful, maybe slamming is the right word, Slamming bass response with a pretty clean midrange presentation although the Treble is a bit on the darker side but hey that allows for easy, inoffensive listening for longer hours with the pair. I personally would have loved a little more energy in the Treble section, but all in all a pretty enjoyable experience I had with the pair. As I have stated earlier in this review as well, the AFUL Performer5 is a compact Sub-Woofer that grooves the crap out of my soul!! Well, I hope you guys liked reading my review, please leave me a like on the post, and feel free to ask me if you have any questions!!
AFUL Audio:-
AFUL Audio is a name that has recently emerged in the international market. But from my understanding, they have been a little bit active in the mainland China local market. According to the Brand’s biography, they were founded back in 2018, and always focused on developing new technologies to bring high-end level sound performance to budget IEMs. Have they succeeded or not, we will find out with the all-new Performer5 which is their debut product in the international market. It’s a 5-driver hybrid set of in-ear monitors that features a classic combination of a dynamic driver and four balanced armature drivers on each side. It’s a lot of introduction, you can know more about the pair and brand on their website and official product page on HiFiGo.
Short Disclaimer:-
A short disclaimer before I begin, this unit of Performer5 was provided to me by HiFiGo as a part of a review tour in my country, there’s no monetary benefit involved in this transaction. You can be assured, all the impressions and points made in this review are completely my own based on my own experience with the pair. At the time of this write-up, Performer5 has officially been launched priced at 219.99$ available on HiFiGo.
https://hifigo.com/products/aful-performer-5(Hifigo)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN45CJX4/aful+performer+5/(Amazon)
Unboxing & Accessories:-
AFUL Performer 5 has got a simple black package with a white printed cover on it. The white cover on has technical info and a frequency graph on the back while an image of the pair along with branding and some technical information on the front side of the outer sleeve. Inside I have the pair sitting firmly into its foam cutouts alongside a round metallic carry case, which is pretty similar to what we have with See Audio IEMs(Bravery, Yume Midnight, etc). The stock cable of Performer5 is inside this box only. The package also includes about six pairs of silicone ear tips. There are no memory foam tips in the package. The cable here is 3.5mm single-ended.
Package Contents:-
>AFUL Performer5 IEMs.
>Metallic Carry Case.
>2-pin cable with 3.5mm termination.
>Six pairs of silicone ear tips.
Design & Build Quality:-
Despite housing a five-driver hybrid setup, the ear shells of Performer5 are quite small. I won’t just call them small, they are rather compact in their form factor. Entirely made up of black resin, the shells have magma-styled face covers which are unique to each unit. The face covers match exactly with Thieaudio Monarch MK2’s face covers. Just because of their looks, I used to call them the baby Monarch MK2. They are quite lightweight and very well-made. It adopts standard 2-pin connectors compatible with 0.78mm 2-pin cables. The included stock cable is also quite good, it’s lightweight and comfortable to use with the pair. IMO the design of the AFUL Performer5 is beautiful and it is paired with its ergonomic, lightweight design.
Fit & Isolation:-
Fit-wise, the AFUL Performer5 sits comfortably into my ears, although the stock tips are pretty meh. I find it to fit me well with SpinFit W1 and Azla SednaEarFit Light ear tips. Soundwise the Stock Tips feel a little boomy in the lower end as they have short and narrow nozzles.
Driving the Performer5:-
Performer5 is an easy-to-drive pair, it doesn’t take a lot of power to sound its best. For my critical listening, I have listened to the pair with three of my primary sources HiBy RS2, Shanling M7, and Tempotec V6. IMO the best pairing is with Shanling M7 and Tempotec V6, with the RS2, the synergy was not the best. It had a little boom in the lower end and also the treble felt a little soft(with the RS2). M7 and V6 have much better clarity and crispness to the Treble region with the Performer5.
Sound Impressions:-
Performer5 has got a neutral-ish sound with bass boosted signature. The bass is quite prominent in the output, especially the sub-bass response. I personally feel the pair sounds like a compact sub-woofer delivering a thunderous rumble in the lower-end region. The mid-bass also has a good slam in the output, but I got my mind drooling over the sub-bass presence of the pair. Although I must add, the bass is a little loose at times but surely it slams with full authority. The lower-end presence, even with such heavy slam is quite clean and extends well into the sub-bass depths. Might call it a Bass Head IEM at a budget for heavy bass lovers.
As soon as we transition into the midrange, we get a smooth, rich midrange presentation with presents lovely vocals. Vocals have got a good body to them, they sound rich and lush. Upper mids are slightly pronounced so they create a good impact with Pop and Vocal Centric songs. Lower-mids retrieve good details and show good texture to instruments such as acoustic guitars, and pianos in their midrange. Lovely midrange presentation imo!! It has better tonality than Yume 2 which I find to have a little metallic touch.
Treble is where things take a slight detour for my preferences. Performer5 although extends well in the Treble region, but the overall tonality here is a little soft and dark. Please don’t get me wrong here, it would be suitable for people who are sensitive to harsh treble, but me, I need some punch, some more crispness in the treble region. But that’s just my preference. As per Performer5, the pair maintains good clarity and resolution in the high frequencies. It even extends well enough as well and also have a smooth dark tone.
Dynamically, Performer5 has got an immersive soundstage with better depth than width or height. No way it’s intimate, but it’s not super wide either. It creates an immersive listening experience for me. For a comparison point here, Yume 2 has a wider stage, but I find Performer5 to have better stage depth, a more 3D feeling here. Air on the stage is decent, and instruments are well-separated, especially in the mid-range segment. Macrodynamics are more pronounced on the set rather than micro dynamics. Detail level is decent enough, overall I am kinda impressed by its fun and sub-woofer kinda sound. I have enjoyed the set thoroughly throughout my auditioning period. Honestly want to keep it for a few more days, but the reviewers ahead are waiting. TBH I don’t care much about all the technologies that the brand advertises, I just enjoy listening to the Performer5’s smooth, Bassy, inoffensive sound.
Some Track Examples:-
Bad Guy by Billie Ellish:-
Man the Performer5 rumbles so hard in this track that I felt my heart vibrating inside of me lol. I personally find the sub-bass of Performer5 to be the very best in this price segment. Like literally drooling, and Bad Guy is one of my favorite Bass heavy tracks for this.
Limit to your Love by James Blake:-
When the bass drops in this track, Performer5 kicks me out of my couch. Not to mention the clarity midrange maintains during the vocals part. I find Performer5 to be an absolute stunner for Bass-focused genres.
Hotel California by Eagles(Hell Freezes Over):-
Pretty decent clarity, and the acoustic intro sounds pretty good on the Performer5. Although the instrument notes feel a little hefty here may be due to the more focused sub-bass response. But overall a good experience.
Dark Necessities by RHCP:-
Performer5 keeps up with the pace of this track, although the instruments sound a little on the softer side. Overall, the speed, and punch are maintained in this track and so is the energy. Vocals are presented with complete clarity even with all the drums and other instruments around.
AFUL Performer5 vs See Audio Yume II:-
I happen to have both the Yume II and Performer5 with me, and it’s a good fight between them. Here’s my take on them.
>Performer5 has more slam, and more depth to the lower end, Yume II sounds tighter.
>Yume II tonally has a little metallic tinge to it, Performer5 sounds more natural to me.
>Yume II delivers more clarity and a crispier treble, Performer5 sounds dark and inoffensive.
>Soundstage width is a bit better on the Yume II while the Performer5 sounds more 3D and deep.
Overall, Yume II feels livelier while Performer5 sounds punchier. Each of these will have its own use cases with Yume II sounding better for Rock, and other fast genres while Performer5 delivers awesomeness to vocal lovers and hip-hop lovers.
Final Words:-
I know the Performer5 has a lot of hype all around, and in my opinion, it sounds pretty good too. It delivers quality a powerful, maybe slamming is the right word, Slamming bass response with a pretty clean midrange presentation although the Treble is a bit on the darker side but hey that allows for easy, inoffensive listening for longer hours with the pair. I personally would have loved a little more energy in the Treble section, but all in all a pretty enjoyable experience I had with the pair. As I have stated earlier in this review as well, the AFUL Performer5 is a compact Sub-Woofer that grooves the crap out of my soul!! Well, I hope you guys liked reading my review, please leave me a like on the post, and feel free to ask me if you have any questions!!
AmericanSpirit
Great review. I also had impressions that Yume II is the coldest among Yume/Bravery, so you may have same ear anatomy with me.
Good to know that P5 passed as warm-neutral IEM which generally people wouldn’t find wide diffusion field because that diffusion field usually accompanied by harman curve. P5 is then proved to be good neutral IEM for audience who find Harman tuning is too vocal forward “vocal in your head”.
I have similarly tuned Mangird Tea, and Tea is one of my best beloved true-neutral IEM, great for “non-vocalist” instrument player, because it simulates how it would sound on live stage.
Keep it going!
Good to know that P5 passed as warm-neutral IEM which generally people wouldn’t find wide diffusion field because that diffusion field usually accompanied by harman curve. P5 is then proved to be good neutral IEM for audience who find Harman tuning is too vocal forward “vocal in your head”.
I have similarly tuned Mangird Tea, and Tea is one of my best beloved true-neutral IEM, great for “non-vocalist” instrument player, because it simulates how it would sound on live stage.
Keep it going!
gadgetgod
@AmericanSpirit thanks man
Scarlets Eyes
please what is the weight of the box it is important for my delivery costs
This review is a crosspost from my website. I usually post my reviews there first, so be sure to not miss them out!
Note: I was just informed by HifiGO that a giveaway of the AFUL Performer 5 is now live on their Facebook page, through this link. Good luck everyone.
Disclaimer: This unit was provided by HifiGO for free in exchange for a written review. No incentives of any kind were given and the review you are about to read are my own thoughts and opinions. Thanks once again to HifiGO for the opportunity and support.
Driver Setup: 1DD+4BA
Price: $219 (Black Friday release price)
Purchase link and info: HifiGO
Included in the box:
Comfort, fit and isolation: Great in every aspect
Source used: Topping L70
Tips used: Final E
Measured volume level: 77db @ 440 hz
Test playlist with some of the songs used: Tidal
Out of all this year’s late releases, there’s only a handful stirring some waves. This one is no exception, given the context of today’s market.
First of all, we have the brand - AFUL. A new player in town, established four years ago and has spent the last two in full research and development, promising to shake the current market.
Second reason, and most important, falls into the product itself - the Performer 5 (P5). Before we dive into buzzwords, let’s take an objective look at the non-sound aspects.
Inside a relatively simple but well thought packaging you can find the following:
The above is not the only “special technology” used in building the Performer 5. One of its main appeals consists of newly developed ways of building, and therefore tuning, the IEM itself. You can find all this information in the product page, but to briefly summarize it, there’s three key fundamentals technologies that I will paste here:
Last word of this chapter will go into tip rolling. I’m not sure if this was caused by all the special tubing tech inside the shell, but I noticed a significant mid-bass drop while using wide-bore tips, to the point that I had some first impressions ready and I had to re-do them. I do recommend narrow-bore tips with the Performer 5 and they seem to help the bass the most, at least in my case, but as always, YMMV.
Now that I just wrote an essay without even touching the sound, I think it’s time for us to analyze the actual sound and check if the Performer 5 lives up to its name.
Depending on your definition of neutral, you could call this IEM a bass boosted neutral or U-shaped. As for me personally, it tends to fall more into the first, but with some weight added to its notes, due to the 300 hz self correction of the bass shelf.
After the sine sweep, I would say the area around 8k hz of my graph is slightly boosted by the coupler, but the extension is actually pretty accurate, starting to roll off at around 16k hz, and needing an amp volume rise past 18k to be heard.
But that only tells us so far, right?
The sub-bass replay at the 3:25m mark leaves me with no doubts that this DD is very capable and the tuning is well extended - in fact, the roll-off only starts at around 18hz, so there you go, measure freaks!
The sub-bass feels physically impactful during this replay, actually rumbling inside your ear, providing the expected claustrophobia effect, so it gets a giant pass.
As a double check, I also pulled out a masterpiece by James Black, Limit To Your Love, and the suspicions were thrown off, confirming what the first track also represented. Touché.
One strange nitpick I will have to disclose is that I would prefer for the Performer 5’s sub-bass to be slightly press prominent, which I will explain why in a second.
With a sub over mid-bass shelf, this is the area that usually suffers, so nothing better than the good old Magnetar to test it.
The tuning itself is pretty spot on, warm and thick, bringing the bass guitars and kick drums to the front, not to be mushed into the background melody. The kick-drums have a sense of impact that is commendable at this price range, especially since I’ve heard worse at higher steaks tables.
My only critique will go into the bass texture, as it gets somewhat masked or blurred on more busy tracks, especially by the sub-bass. This is unfortunately more common than not and not really a pick on Performer 5, but most iems with sub over mid-bass shelves.
Despite my nitpick, the mid-bass doesn’t suffer from an overly tightness a la Foster driver, having just enough bounce to it to make it fun during Haywyre - Permutate bass drops. This effect also means that the bass drops on hip-hop tracks like Backstreet Freestyle by Kendrick Lamar are well replayed by this set.
The mid-range of the P5 is warm but still clear, but running far from the usual harmanesc thin notes, result obtained by the bass shelf as previously mentioned. Still, there’s a sense of separation between the bass and the shelf, avoiding some of the bleed into this area.
The tonal balance of this range is pretty spot up, especially in the upper regions, but lacks some sense of separation and layering (this effect will be explained further down below), which has me no choice but call it probably the weakest link of the frequency chart on the Performer 5.
Despite that, it still comes out as very detailed and you can clearly distinguish both hands keystrokes and hammers on Glass.
As for vocals… I have zero things to point out. Adele’s Oh My God shows no hints of shout and just a hint of prolonged “sssss” sounds that I can totally get by as the timbre accuracy for it it’s pretty spot on, with some correct bite to avoid any roundness.
The story repeats itself while enjoying the track In Hell I’ll Be In Good Company by The Dead South. Despite the bass shelf hinting their presence forward, the male vocals still have some sense of bite and absence of dullness, tilting just ever-so-slightly into huskyness.
The treble region of the P5 is pretty commendable. Adapting a neutral style, it doesn’t show any signs of dips and peaks, being quite flat until its air regions. While it is not overly cooked, customers looking for dark sets might not appreciate this, while as for me, my hat is off.
The violins on this Mozart piece sound full and their harmonic decay is pretty much spot on for a BA driver, which is rare on a set, let alone for the price. Nothing stands out or fatigues me during my extensive take.
The cymbal strikes and electric guitar's replay during Cosmic Sands by Cory Wong follows the same trait, as the violins, with only fast decay being my nitpick, causing the fabled BA timbre to show up, but without being overly plastic.
I’ll cut this short: impressive.
The technical capability of the AFUL Performer 5 is no slouch whatsoever, minus a caveat.
Actually, that caveat might be a deal-breaker for you, so I’ll quickly rip the band-aid off: the soundstage is very intimate, and below average in size. This is not an hyperbole whatsoever, so if you are a stage size freak, this won’t be for you.
Another small note I will also mention while we are at it is the hint of BA timbre displayed mainly in the treble region, especially with brass instruments, where the decay is on the shorter side, leaving some plasticity tint in the tongue. The reason I called it a small note is that it’s not that obvious as some past sets I’ve tried like the Blessings, VX or the Lokahi.
With that out of the way, there’s mostly only good things from now on. The detail retrieval, anchored by the Performer’s tuning is pretty good and above average.
The dynamics are not dull or giving a sense of compressness, and I will consider them way above average given the price range we are talking about.
The coherency of the sound is not great, but not terrible. You can find a speed difference between the dynamic driver and the balanced armateurs (more obvious in the treble area), but other than that, I would assume most people would not pick this up as obvious or even ignore it.
The last subjective topic I will touch is a sum of three parts, affected by an external one. I do believe the layering, separation and positional accuracy (imaging) are solid, but they all take a hit due to stage size. Nonetheless green card and enjoyable.
In this section, I will do brief comparisons vs other hybrids in the market around the $300 bracket. All comparisons were done using 4.4mm terminated cables connected to my Topping L70, at a measured volume of 77db @ 440 hz.
Tips used: DUNU S&S (Cylinders)
The legendary N3 comes out pumping a warmer replay, thanks to a more pronounced bass shelf and less energetic treble. The P5 has better overall tonal balance and will appeal to more people as a standard choice.
Sony N3’s bass is an acquired taste, so objectively I will have to attribute this region to the AFUL, especially in the impact meter. Given that shelf, the mid-range of the AFUL is cleaner and better tuned, where the treble region is a masterclass into N3’s side of the field.
The technical chops are curious between the two, they both suffer in their imaging chops, but the N3 still feels wider, despite also lacking depth. The AFUL is more resolving while the Sony displays much better timbre and coherency.
In sum, I do think both sets are more of side-grades between each other and excel at different things.
Tips used: BVGP W01
Just as blunt as the graph, the tuning conclusion is pretty obvious: the Performer 5 a slightly V-shaped version of Tea2’s tuning, bringing less mids and vocals into your face in exchange for more bass and mid to upper-treble.
The bass dictates the warmer tonality of the Performer 5 which I will admit, I prefer on some tracks and Tea’s on others, as at the end of a day, it’s kind of a toss. Technically, the bass bass of the Tea2 has more clarity to it (less blurred) and it’s snappier, but it’s still a BA bass. The Performer 5 shows better texture on its mid-bass and more physicality on its sub-bass. Gesaffelstein - OPR is a toss, as the speed and clarity of the Tea2 really show off but the impact and texture of the Performer 5 also bring the replay alive.
As for the mid-range and vocals, Tea2 has the total advantage due to its tuning and subjective aspects like separation and layering. It is more transparent and has more correct note weight - neither too thin or too thick.
Treble is more correct on the Performer 5, due to less dips, avoiding some of the vocal timbre wonkiness that vocals on the Tea2 might have due to its lower treble dip. The latter comes out as more relaxed and way more fatigue free, especially on some genres like rock and hip-hop, or older records. The extension is better on AFUL’s set.
Technically speaking, it’s majorly a win for Tea2, especially on imaging chops and timbre, where the Performer just can’t catch up. Do keep in mind Tea2 hits my HRTF pretty well and gives an insane sense of holographic display. The resolving power is close between the two, with a slight advantage for the P5 giving its treble boost.
Tips used: Azla Crystal
Once I switched between them, two major differences arose: the bass texture and the imaging chops of the VULKAN are on another level, but the tuning of the P5 is much more palatable, turning into a completely different approach and experience.
Tonality wise, the Vulkan is way more relaxed, where the Performer uses a more U-shaped approach in comparison, which means that for some, the Performer will come out as more engaging, especially in the sub-bass region. The mid-range is cleaner on the VULKAN but AFUL has more forward vocals, both male and female.
The treble region is much more prominent on the Performer 5 and also better extended, with the VULKAN having better timbre (Max Richter - Winter 1) and less fatigue. Resolving wise, they are close but the P5 comes out as having more sharp transients.
Buzzwords and patents aside, AFUL’s team entered the building in absolute style, kicking down the front door. I’m finding myself hard pressed to find a more tonally balanced model than the Performer 5 at his price bracket or below (let’s ignore ER2XR due to fit, shall we?).
In sum, I think the price is pretty clever, positioning themselves far enough from the $300+ kingpins like the technically gifted Blessing 2 twins - which also have fundamental flaws of their own, - and being so competitive in price that everyone will want a bite of this pie. Hell, I’ll go further and say that minus the mid-range, I’d take the AFUL’s tuning over the Blessing 2 or Dusk, while the twins prey the Performer 5 open on imaging chops and better dynamics.
Despite any of the direct hybrid competitors, there was a void left between 200 and 300 dollars, where almost only Tanchjim Oxygen and some planar IEMs rested their heads, having now to face the orange powerhouse.
I really do think that if the stage wasn’t so intimate, it had a real shot of raising its asking price and still triumph. That’s the only aspect I will actually criticize on the Performer 5’s and this is the reason why I can’t consider it evaporates the competition or simply undercuts them.
As of now, I think it’s pretty obvious to assume that it is my pleasure to give my full recommendation to the Performer 5. My last word goes to AFUL, to whom my hats are off, proving that tuning is not a matter of price.
Thanks for reading!
Note: I was just informed by HifiGO that a giveaway of the AFUL Performer 5 is now live on their Facebook page, through this link. Good luck everyone.
Table of Contents
- Prologue
- Tonality
- Sub-bass
- Mid-bass
- Mid-range and Vocals
- Treble and Air
- Technical chops
- Comparisons
- Sony N3
- Xenns Mangird Tea2
- DUNU VULKAN
- The verdict
Driver Setup: 1DD+4BA
Price: $219 (Black Friday release price)
Purchase link and info: HifiGO
Included in the box:
- Performer 5
- Standard 2pin cable with a 3.5mm termination
- 3 pairs of silicone tips in two color variants (6 pairs total)
- A puck style carrying pouch
- Paperwork
Comfort, fit and isolation: Great in every aspect
Source used: Topping L70
Tips used: Final E
Measured volume level: 77db @ 440 hz
Test playlist with some of the songs used: Tidal
Prologue
Out of all this year’s late releases, there’s only a handful stirring some waves. This one is no exception, given the context of today’s market.
First of all, we have the brand - AFUL. A new player in town, established four years ago and has spent the last two in full research and development, promising to shake the current market.
Second reason, and most important, falls into the product itself - the Performer 5 (P5). Before we dive into buzzwords, let’s take an objective look at the non-sound aspects.
Inside a relatively simple but well thought packaging you can find the following:
- Six pairs of generic narrow bore tips that come in three sizes and two color variants, so you can use red and blue tips to signal left and right monitors. Tips are very personal and for me they did not work the best, and I ended up tip rolling which I will comment in a moment, but as always, YMMV;
- A well built 2-pin cable, with a working chin slider and branded only on its termination. It’s light-weight and very user friendly, so there’s no need to change it other than for aesthetic purposes, in case you wish to. My only nitpick will go into its limitation to 3.5mm only, meaning that you can’t choose different terminations or a modular plug. Again, not important;
- A puck-style carrying case that is well built and very easy to open, displaying the brand's name on top. Opposite to similar offered cases by other brands using this style, AFUL’s one is very light-weight due to the usage of hard plastic instead of metal. The interior has some sort of fluffy fabric to prevent your IEMs from scratching or breaking.
The above is not the only “special technology” used in building the Performer 5. One of its main appeals consists of newly developed ways of building, and therefore tuning, the IEM itself. You can find all this information in the product page, but to briefly summarize it, there’s three key fundamentals technologies that I will paste here:
- EnvisionTEC High-Precision 3D Printed Acoustic Cavity Structure: Using high-quality 3D printing technology, AFUL Acoustics has designed a precise 3D printed acoustic tube structure for the Performer 5. They have named it EnvisionTEC acoustic tube structure. This features a 60mm ultra-long and ultra-thin bass tube with a 30mm mid-bass duct structure for a powerful, slamming bass response. It helps maintain a proper phase correction between different frequencies.
- RLC Network Frequency Division Correction Technology: In order to get the best out of the five-driver hybrid configuration, Performer 5 features in-house developed RLC Network Frequency Division Technology. It not only allows the different drivers to have accurate frequency division but also corrects their non-ideal frequency response for certain frequency bands presenting the listeners with a smooth frequency response without any peaks or irregularities.
- High-Damping Air-Pressure Balance System: AFUL Acoustics Performer 5 is designed with a high-damping air-pressure balance system. It releases the air pressure inside the ear canal when the pair is worn promising a comfortable listening experience. With this specially designed air-pressure balance system, the bass texture and slam of the Performer 5 are also improved.
Last word of this chapter will go into tip rolling. I’m not sure if this was caused by all the special tubing tech inside the shell, but I noticed a significant mid-bass drop while using wide-bore tips, to the point that I had some first impressions ready and I had to re-do them. I do recommend narrow-bore tips with the Performer 5 and they seem to help the bass the most, at least in my case, but as always, YMMV.
Now that I just wrote an essay without even touching the sound, I think it’s time for us to analyze the actual sound and check if the Performer 5 lives up to its name.
Tonality
Depending on your definition of neutral, you could call this IEM a bass boosted neutral or U-shaped. As for me personally, it tends to fall more into the first, but with some weight added to its notes, due to the 300 hz self correction of the bass shelf.
After the sine sweep, I would say the area around 8k hz of my graph is slightly boosted by the coupler, but the extension is actually pretty accurate, starting to roll off at around 16k hz, and needing an amp volume rise past 18k to be heard.
But that only tells us so far, right?
Sub-bass
The sub-bass replay at the 3:25m mark leaves me with no doubts that this DD is very capable and the tuning is well extended - in fact, the roll-off only starts at around 18hz, so there you go, measure freaks!
The sub-bass feels physically impactful during this replay, actually rumbling inside your ear, providing the expected claustrophobia effect, so it gets a giant pass.
As a double check, I also pulled out a masterpiece by James Black, Limit To Your Love, and the suspicions were thrown off, confirming what the first track also represented. Touché.
One strange nitpick I will have to disclose is that I would prefer for the Performer 5’s sub-bass to be slightly press prominent, which I will explain why in a second.
Mid-bass
With a sub over mid-bass shelf, this is the area that usually suffers, so nothing better than the good old Magnetar to test it.
The tuning itself is pretty spot on, warm and thick, bringing the bass guitars and kick drums to the front, not to be mushed into the background melody. The kick-drums have a sense of impact that is commendable at this price range, especially since I’ve heard worse at higher steaks tables.
My only critique will go into the bass texture, as it gets somewhat masked or blurred on more busy tracks, especially by the sub-bass. This is unfortunately more common than not and not really a pick on Performer 5, but most iems with sub over mid-bass shelves.
Despite my nitpick, the mid-bass doesn’t suffer from an overly tightness a la Foster driver, having just enough bounce to it to make it fun during Haywyre - Permutate bass drops. This effect also means that the bass drops on hip-hop tracks like Backstreet Freestyle by Kendrick Lamar are well replayed by this set.
Mid-range and Vocals
The mid-range of the P5 is warm but still clear, but running far from the usual harmanesc thin notes, result obtained by the bass shelf as previously mentioned. Still, there’s a sense of separation between the bass and the shelf, avoiding some of the bleed into this area.
The tonal balance of this range is pretty spot up, especially in the upper regions, but lacks some sense of separation and layering (this effect will be explained further down below), which has me no choice but call it probably the weakest link of the frequency chart on the Performer 5.
Despite that, it still comes out as very detailed and you can clearly distinguish both hands keystrokes and hammers on Glass.
As for vocals… I have zero things to point out. Adele’s Oh My God shows no hints of shout and just a hint of prolonged “sssss” sounds that I can totally get by as the timbre accuracy for it it’s pretty spot on, with some correct bite to avoid any roundness.
The story repeats itself while enjoying the track In Hell I’ll Be In Good Company by The Dead South. Despite the bass shelf hinting their presence forward, the male vocals still have some sense of bite and absence of dullness, tilting just ever-so-slightly into huskyness.
Treble and Air
The treble region of the P5 is pretty commendable. Adapting a neutral style, it doesn’t show any signs of dips and peaks, being quite flat until its air regions. While it is not overly cooked, customers looking for dark sets might not appreciate this, while as for me, my hat is off.
The violins on this Mozart piece sound full and their harmonic decay is pretty much spot on for a BA driver, which is rare on a set, let alone for the price. Nothing stands out or fatigues me during my extensive take.
The cymbal strikes and electric guitar's replay during Cosmic Sands by Cory Wong follows the same trait, as the violins, with only fast decay being my nitpick, causing the fabled BA timbre to show up, but without being overly plastic.
I’ll cut this short: impressive.
Technical chops
The technical capability of the AFUL Performer 5 is no slouch whatsoever, minus a caveat.
Actually, that caveat might be a deal-breaker for you, so I’ll quickly rip the band-aid off: the soundstage is very intimate, and below average in size. This is not an hyperbole whatsoever, so if you are a stage size freak, this won’t be for you.
Another small note I will also mention while we are at it is the hint of BA timbre displayed mainly in the treble region, especially with brass instruments, where the decay is on the shorter side, leaving some plasticity tint in the tongue. The reason I called it a small note is that it’s not that obvious as some past sets I’ve tried like the Blessings, VX or the Lokahi.
With that out of the way, there’s mostly only good things from now on. The detail retrieval, anchored by the Performer’s tuning is pretty good and above average.
The dynamics are not dull or giving a sense of compressness, and I will consider them way above average given the price range we are talking about.
The coherency of the sound is not great, but not terrible. You can find a speed difference between the dynamic driver and the balanced armateurs (more obvious in the treble area), but other than that, I would assume most people would not pick this up as obvious or even ignore it.
The last subjective topic I will touch is a sum of three parts, affected by an external one. I do believe the layering, separation and positional accuracy (imaging) are solid, but they all take a hit due to stage size. Nonetheless green card and enjoyable.
Comparisons
Sony N3
Tips used: DUNU S&S (Cylinders)
The legendary N3 comes out pumping a warmer replay, thanks to a more pronounced bass shelf and less energetic treble. The P5 has better overall tonal balance and will appeal to more people as a standard choice.
Sony N3’s bass is an acquired taste, so objectively I will have to attribute this region to the AFUL, especially in the impact meter. Given that shelf, the mid-range of the AFUL is cleaner and better tuned, where the treble region is a masterclass into N3’s side of the field.
The technical chops are curious between the two, they both suffer in their imaging chops, but the N3 still feels wider, despite also lacking depth. The AFUL is more resolving while the Sony displays much better timbre and coherency.
In sum, I do think both sets are more of side-grades between each other and excel at different things.
Xenns Mangird Tea2
Tips used: BVGP W01
Just as blunt as the graph, the tuning conclusion is pretty obvious: the Performer 5 a slightly V-shaped version of Tea2’s tuning, bringing less mids and vocals into your face in exchange for more bass and mid to upper-treble.
The bass dictates the warmer tonality of the Performer 5 which I will admit, I prefer on some tracks and Tea’s on others, as at the end of a day, it’s kind of a toss. Technically, the bass bass of the Tea2 has more clarity to it (less blurred) and it’s snappier, but it’s still a BA bass. The Performer 5 shows better texture on its mid-bass and more physicality on its sub-bass. Gesaffelstein - OPR is a toss, as the speed and clarity of the Tea2 really show off but the impact and texture of the Performer 5 also bring the replay alive.
As for the mid-range and vocals, Tea2 has the total advantage due to its tuning and subjective aspects like separation and layering. It is more transparent and has more correct note weight - neither too thin or too thick.
Treble is more correct on the Performer 5, due to less dips, avoiding some of the vocal timbre wonkiness that vocals on the Tea2 might have due to its lower treble dip. The latter comes out as more relaxed and way more fatigue free, especially on some genres like rock and hip-hop, or older records. The extension is better on AFUL’s set.
Technically speaking, it’s majorly a win for Tea2, especially on imaging chops and timbre, where the Performer just can’t catch up. Do keep in mind Tea2 hits my HRTF pretty well and gives an insane sense of holographic display. The resolving power is close between the two, with a slight advantage for the P5 giving its treble boost.
DUNU VULKAN
Tips used: Azla Crystal
Once I switched between them, two major differences arose: the bass texture and the imaging chops of the VULKAN are on another level, but the tuning of the P5 is much more palatable, turning into a completely different approach and experience.
Tonality wise, the Vulkan is way more relaxed, where the Performer uses a more U-shaped approach in comparison, which means that for some, the Performer will come out as more engaging, especially in the sub-bass region. The mid-range is cleaner on the VULKAN but AFUL has more forward vocals, both male and female.
The treble region is much more prominent on the Performer 5 and also better extended, with the VULKAN having better timbre (Max Richter - Winter 1) and less fatigue. Resolving wise, they are close but the P5 comes out as having more sharp transients.
The verdict
In sum, I think the price is pretty clever, positioning themselves far enough from the $300+ kingpins like the technically gifted Blessing 2 twins - which also have fundamental flaws of their own, - and being so competitive in price that everyone will want a bite of this pie. Hell, I’ll go further and say that minus the mid-range, I’d take the AFUL’s tuning over the Blessing 2 or Dusk, while the twins prey the Performer 5 open on imaging chops and better dynamics.
Despite any of the direct hybrid competitors, there was a void left between 200 and 300 dollars, where almost only Tanchjim Oxygen and some planar IEMs rested their heads, having now to face the orange powerhouse.
I really do think that if the stage wasn’t so intimate, it had a real shot of raising its asking price and still triumph. That’s the only aspect I will actually criticize on the Performer 5’s and this is the reason why I can’t consider it evaporates the competition or simply undercuts them.
As of now, I think it’s pretty obvious to assume that it is my pleasure to give my full recommendation to the Performer 5. My last word goes to AFUL, to whom my hats are off, proving that tuning is not a matter of price.
Thanks for reading!
ernie633124
Sweet review of the Aful Performer5
Scarlets Eyes
please what is the weight of the box it is important for my delivery costs
amanieux
vs your beloved olina ?
Foreword
- At the point of this article, my AFUL Performer 5 has undergone over 150 hours of runtime
- I don't do measurements, I just describe what I hear, from my own POV
- My preferred sound tuning, Diffused Field Neutral (Etymotic)
- The entirety of my impressions was done with my own Dekoni foam tips
- Ultimately, my reviews are purely subjective and biased to my personal preference in sound
- For the purpose of this review, the unit will be mentioned as P5
AFUL Performer 5 (P5) is a newly developed 5 drivers hybrid IEM from AFUL, boasting some of the most impressive array of technology I have seen yet. For a start, P5 comes with 5 distinctive patented tech - something almost unheard of from most earphone manufacturers (the likes of Etymotic and Shure does have their own patents).
Frankly, I am not well versed with tech stuffs pertaining to audio gears. What I do appreciate is when a manufacturer goes the extra mile to produce bespoke like products to achieve possibilities and maximizing performance, value and dependency. So I will not delve too much into the specifics because my reviews has always been, how do they perform in real life? sounds good? - that sort of thing.
Lets start with the shells. They are made of hardened resin with EnvisionTEC High-Precision 3D Printed Acoustic Tube Structure, I figured that this is where the characteristic of P5 sound are influenced - IEM auditory and sonic characteristics are largely attributed to how the shells are designed. What this means to me, AFUL has spent great effort to tune the internals of the IEM shells to comply to specific target they deem as fitting. Inside the shells, a single Dynamic Driver accompanied by 4 Balanced Amatures, Those 5 drivers deployed with RLC Network Frequency Division Technology - I assume that it means there's some serious tech under the hood to connect and tune the five different drivers, ensuring high level of precision, cohesion and accuracy.
Esthetically, P5 is a thing of beauty. The magma like faceplates looking gorgeous, layered with thick enameled lacquer finishes. The inside section, dark blue-ish black. P5 has been designed meticulously ergonomic to offer comfort and best possible universal fit. I would say the 4mm bore size nozzle exhibiting moderate length - not too short nor does it protrude longer than necessary. On top of that, at just 4.2gm each side, P5 is assuredly among the lightest IEM have ever had yet in my possession. These thoughtful design and implementation meant that wearing P5 is a pleasant affair. It is super comfortable once anchored securely. I have been able to wear my P5 for literally half a day with music on shuffle non stop - no unsavory effects like wear fatigue that I can complain of. P5 literally disappear when the music starts.
On top of that, P5 has something called High-Damping Air-Pressure Balance System, some sort of integrated ventilation system intended to relieve possible build up of vacuum pressure - which means that there will be no sensation of closed vacuum proximity when IEM seal has been achieved. But this was also intended, and perhaps more importantly to impart some element of influence of how P5 would perform sonically (more on this later).
P5 comes accompanied with pretty much standard array of accessories as per expected of an IEM of this pedigree. Nothing too lavish or extravagant - it is more practical than fanciful. The stock cable, I believe being made of SPC, looked just like many other IEM cables seen these days. Well built, offering robust yet pliable feel to it and should stand the test of time with daily rigorous usage.
Then, there's two sets of silicone tips offering 2 variant - wide and narrow bore. Wide for Treble focus and narrow for lower frequency emphasis. I wished AFUL would have also included foam tips but alas none are offered, manufacturers really need to understand that silicone tips won't work for everyone - and I am one of them. The entirety of my review for P5 has been done with Dekoni foam tips instead. I just cannot bear the odd feeling of silicone tips on my ear canals.
Equipment Used
- Sony Xperia 1 iV
- Windows 10 with Native USB Drivers
- UAPP Bitperfect Mode
- HiByMusic USB Exclusive Mode with FLAC files
- CEntrance DACport HD
- Cayin RU6
- Ovidius B1
- Hidizs XO
- 7Hz 71
- VE Abigail
Sound Impressions
AFUL Performer 5 (P5), I would describe it as a fusion between Harman and W curved sound tuning. Pronounced boosting and coloration especially on the lower frequencies being prominent out of the box. With approx 40 hours of burn-in, I can audibly hear the lower frequencies firmed up and settled down nicely. Otherwise, to my ears which is so accustomed to Diffused Field Neutral sound curve, P5 sounded exceedingly Bassy, colored and vibrant.
P5 is assuredly rich and expansive with dynamic range. The breadth and expanse from one end to the other end practically TOTL level - only bested by the likes of Shure KSE1500. On the aspect of dynamic characteristics, P5 offer lively and vibrant dynamic transients that exhibited silky smooth flow of harmonics. Euphony level exhibited finesse and grace, it is exciting as it is mature sounding at the same time. Always clean and coherent. The transitions of sonic frequency interchanges seemingly fluid and purposeful. Most prominent would be the depth of lower frequency reach, P5 projected them masterfully yet keeping it sensible with imaging crispness - it is cleanly audible, but it does not overwhelm.
Tonal and timbre balance of P5 is highly organic. My extensive listening to P5 covering all possible genres, I was able to throw at it, I have yet to hear any hint of unsavory metallic or plasticky timbre. P5 is natural as it is gracefully realistic with tonal and timbre balance, despite being highly colored and vibrant. On this aspect, I can totally respect tuning acumen as exhibited by AFUL. For the most part, instruments, percussions and vocals presented transparently as how they are meant to be. I think P5 owes it a lot to how the 5 drivers bonded together to always remained cohesive to each other, the technology as stated earlier applied ensuring that the harmonics being well controlled and balanced, resulting in smooth projection of dynamic transients that sounded believable tonal wise.
For something that is relatively V Harman-ish curved, P5 is surprisingly rich and frontal with Mids presentation. Hence why I said earlier this P5 being a hybrid of V and W sounding IEM. It is rich, dense and succinct. The overall theme of P5 Mids being naturally organic, just very mild hint of warmth to the timbre and texture. P5 Mids offer good depth and resolution. Be it stringed instruments, percussions or electronic, P5 Mids will always appear well defined, crisp and smooth. Playing Jazz is an emotional and immersive affair thanks to the ambience of Mids staging which can be intimate depending on how they were mixed and mastered. The V element of Mids will be audible when subjected to listening to Rock/Metal genres, or practically any music that exhibited native suppression of Mids as part of the recording scheme. What this translated to me, P5 being highly transparent to the nature of the recording - the ability and agility to adapt to the source intended design. For someone who listens a lot to Metal music, P5 offer some of the smoothest sound for electric guitars - smooth yet still crispy enough imparting good sense of bite and edge. Or should I say, the electric guitar riffs will always appear well rounded and refined. The attack and decays remained realistic, engaging and vibrant. I can listen to raw Black Metal Lo-Fi recordings all day long and will never get any risk of auditory fatigue due to the smoothness of P5 Mids presentation, especially upper Mids which is absolutely free from any elements of Pinna glare.
For vocals, notably I would say the lower keyed female vocals (Contralto) from the likes of Diana Krall or Sinne Eeg would appear slightly warmer, but it still has ample natural tint to it - which resulted in something that is lush and engaging, highly emotional...that's the purpose of Jazz isn't it? to be emotionally connected to the music and singing. The same can be said of male vocals, typically richer and thicker in density, I am hearing deep chesty singing from Morrissey and Nick Cave, both being Baritone-Tenor type. And last but not least, subjecting P5 to the peakier type of vocals from Alison Krauss and Mariah Carey (Soprano-Alto), P5 exhibited excellent control to emit even the most shrill section of their singing - simply outstanding.
Treble for P5 can be best described as mature and well controlled. In fact compared to some competitors, I would say P5 may appear seemingly moderate with Treble projection. But moderate does not mean P5 being weak with upper frequencies performance. Simply put, it is not an outright bright sounding unit. P5 offer delicate and cleanly audible Treble with deep extensions - evidenced with great presentation of Treble micro details exhibiting smooth decays dispersal. The energy, the attack being highly mature. It is euphonic enough to instill excitement, yet never offensive or sibilant - not even when subjected to highly aggressive music that contain lots of Hi-Hat and cymbals. Treble transients being harmonious and fluid. I daresay, for someone who love refined Treble, I find P5 capable of mesmerizing performances that will not fail to impart sense of satisfaction.
Now to the best part, Bass. Among the many that I have listened to, without a doubt P5 is an absolute champion with Bass performances. I would even describe P5 being a miniature Subwoofer IEM. And thus the subject goes back to the implementation of P5 High-Damping Air-Pressure Balance System, which means that P5 has an advantage of behaving like an open backed earphone instead of an In Ear Monitor. This in return resulted in something that is airy and gracefully flowing. Yes, Bass notes of P5 is literally flowing and mesmerizing, devoid of any sense of closed vacuum - something that is akin to Subwoofer sensations. Midbass of P5 exhibited solid authority and presence, commanding yet never overwhelming. It has details and rich texture, immersive depth and articulation. Impact and slam just as per expected of a Dynamic Driver, with strong seismic sensations all the way to Subbass decays. The Subbass itself being well extended into the furthest region with realistic dispersal of note edge. Despite largely being somewhat Bass heavy IEM, P5 surprisingly does not feel awkwardly boomy or bloated, Bass is always clean and fast. I am no where near being a Basshead yet I am addictively attuned to this sort of lower frequency performances. This is where I would say P5 being strong enough to rival some of the Harman tuned IEMs competitors out there. That deep and engaging Bass will assuredly please those who appreciate beautifully presented lower frequency vibes.
Technicalities
Without a doubt, AFUL Performer 5 is exceedingly good with technicalities. Perhaps the only critic I would say would be on the aspect of overall headstaging width and dimension. I feel that the soundstage could use a bit more space to compliment the open sound. It is not exactly narrow, but I have heard wider staging from other IEMs. Maybe, because P5 being frontal with the projection of Mids, that sort of presentation impart strong sense of intimacy which in turn making my ears perceive the soundstage being not wide enough. But really I am nitpicking here.
As for the rest, P5 exhibited clinical precision with layer separation and spatial imaging. Being a 5 drivers hybrid tuned correctly does that. P5 is highly holographic and immersive. P5 can easily be at home for music as it is for gaming as well, especially for FPS or TPP type of gaming where sound source accuracy is critical.
Transparency and resolution is assuredly top notch. P5 will resolve even better for high quality sources. Extracting all possible details contained therein. The bonus part, despite being highly resolving, P5 is still forgiving enough for Lo-Fi or even YouTube contents - this is not an easy thing to balance out.
Aligned with the rest of technical competencies, P5 is also great with speed. Good coherency between the 5 drivers ensured that P5 is able to resolve even the most complex of music composition, or outright speedy exceeding 250 BPM. P5 will never be subjected to sounding sluggish or muddied.
Scalability
Rated at 35 Ohm with 110 dB of sensitivity, P5 runs perfectly fine even directly from my Sony Xperia 1 iV phone. The output being wholesome and rich.
Subjecting P5 to higher powered partners, P5 will then exhibit improved dynamic density and technicalities. Absolutely mesmerizing when paired with CEntrance DACport HD, Cayin RU6 and Ovidius B1. I must say that I am impressed that P5 was able to handle all that power without any effect of being shouty or overly euphonic. That's the sign of maturity and great scalability.
But I must also mention, P5 may exhibit floor noises on some DAC/Amps, something like Ovidius B1 or VE Megatron, both of which are obscenely powerful.
Final Words
AFUL Performer 5 is a solid and amazing unit end to end. The application of exotic tech does translates into sonic performances that will not fail to instill WOW element. I know it WOWed me, despite of my dogged insistence to sticking to more neutral sounding IEMs.
I like it a lot that P5 is highly organic and natural sounding with timbre and tonal balance (despite being colored with sound spectrum). This is how a vibrant yet mature sounding unit should be tuned. It compels the user to want listening more and more, not wanting to put it aside because music sounded so lively and immersive. While being musical, P5 remained highly acute with technicalities, details and crisp imaging in abundance, always.
And yes the Bass, damm that Subwoofer sensation is an absolute winner in my book. That rich mesmerizing flow of Bass responses, airy and commanding. Bass heavy tracks simply blissful to listen to.
Ultimately, AFUL Performer 5 is a wonder to behold. The build, the tech, the sonic element, the wear all seemingly well crafted. It will be hard to match the unique qualities of P5.
AFUL Performer 5 is available at HiFiGo (to be released 25 November 2022):
https://hifigo.com/products/aful-performer-5
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0BN5R23ZP/aful+performer+5/ (Amazon Japan)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN45CJX4/aful+performer+5/ (Amazon)
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804801271867.html (AliExpress)
szore
200 bucks how could you go wrong?
Scarlets Eyes
please what is the weight of the box it is important for my delivery costs
