AFUL Performer 8

Aful Performer 8 (Chinese Edition) - Review

First of all, I will give you a warning. I always review stuff according to my preference and my target is similar to "Tanchjhim Oxygen". Transparency is the key to my reviews and I always feel I should review something according to my taste. If I try to generalise stuff it will do more harm than good. Audio is subjective and everyone should give their subjective impressions while reviewing stuff, it's up to the viewer to filter out his preferred reviewers. Again I am very transparent about my opinion and I don't like to care about anything else. This review is very subjective and I am not paid or influenced to say anything about any product.

Having said that, I don't want to keep any suspense. I freaking love this IEM. For everyone, I will compare it with IE600, Blessings 2, Performer 5 and RSV as a reference point being the popularity these three IEMs achieved in the hobby.

Let's start with the things that impressed me the most.

This IEM is very clean sounding IEM and very very correct to my ears. What do I mean by correct? For me correct means I don't feel the need to change the sound to any extent using EQ and stuff. The totality of this IEM is extremely neutral to my ears and it is very very natural.

The drivability of this IEM is insane. It is easier to drive than 7hz Zero. Don't get me wrong of course you will benefit from better DAC for separation and spatial representation but this IEM is super easy to drive.

The pinna compensation of this IEM is very good for my ear gain and HRTF.

The plateau in the upper midrange gives the vocals a special treatment in which they sound phenomenal to me.

Before Going to the cons I would like to discuss its tonality in detail.

Bass - There is no wow factor in this region. The sub-bass sounds clean and not exaggerated or elevated. Having said that, this is a problem with a few of my friends in the hobby. In their words "This feels like a BA Bass" & it is very low in quantity. For me, I don't think this is the case by any means. This IEM can't exaggerate the Subbass and Bass Region to give it a boost, but they do a good job if you give them a track with ample bass. You just can't expect it to give bass like Performer 5.

Now all the stuff like Attack and Decay is very moderate and will not satisfy a basshead by miles. The authority is very toned down too. To be exact the bass is the least exciting thing for me in this IEM but it didn't bother me. The textural information of the bass in this IEM is very light not in your face.

You won't get the huge air push in the sub-bass like IE600 but it is way more than the Blessings 2. The details in the Bass are also not as detailed as in IE600. The punch is more than RSV but decay is more natural in RSV.

Mids - Mids are sculpted as per my liking. There is a lot to talk about this certain range in this IEM.

Timber - The timber is not accurate but it is very close. For me, Timber is not a subjective thing and in the same way, it does not dictate how I enjoy the music. I can enjoy instruments even if I can't get accurate timber, but the reproduction has to be agile. This IEM provided me with that. I don't always want the guitar to sound real-life-like, I like guitars to have a smoothed metallic shrill and this IEM gave me that. So even if they can't reproduce the exact timbers of certain instruments, I enjoy them. Blessing 2 is better for me in Timber as well as RSV. It is miles better than Performer 5 and IE600.

The problem I faced with them was regarding the Drums, no matter how hard I tried to not care, Snare Drums are very artificial. They have the low end but need to catch up on the upper mids attack. Timberwise drums are the worst.

Vocals - Vocals are absolutely beautiful for me in this IEM. They are neither recessed nor elevated and sit right in the comfort zone of my target. I prefer B2 over P8 purely for vocals and I would say B2 Performs extremely well if the source is right. Textural information is average too.

Treble - The treble is wonderful to my ears, not too dark and or too bright. Crisp and detailed for the price bracket it acquires. The 10K - 15K dip is somewhat noticeable and it adds to the "In your face" feeling a lot. And sometimes it feels disconnected for sizzles in the songs, making it somewhat peaky for some people, also contributing to the missing trailing edges in the same instruments.
Overall, it is better than RSV and P5 by a huge margin (Obviously). I also prefer it over B2 but IE600 still takes the cake for the treble. I find IE600 treble to be ludicrous under the $500 bracket.

Now the cons

This IEM doesn't fit me well.

Eartips easily get dislocated.

The 2-pin Connector feels cheap.

Talking about the technicalities

The soundstage is somewhat round and not extremely yolk-like. It is slightly bigger than Blessings 2 and RSV. IE600 is a step above in spatial representation.

The detail retrieval is very good for the price but it still can't touch IE600 (Which is 2X the price). But it can hold its ground very very well in its price range.

Imaging is moderately good for the price.

Separation is excellent I would say. No matter how complex the mix is I could easily separate and focus on different instruments. Better than B2 and RSV and almost on par with IE600.

"Without music, Life would be a mistake"

~~Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher, composer and a cultural critic.


This is AFUL Performer 8, this is a follow-up model and an improvement of the highly popular, AFUL Performer 5. I did a review of the AFUL Performer 5 before and to be honest, I find it not that impressive given its popularity among audio enthusiasts out there.



Like its predecessor model, AFUL Performer 8 is a hybrid driver IEM but the difference was the improvement of some of its patented technologies like High Dampening Air Pressure Balance System (HDAPBS) and RCL Network Frequency Division Correction Technology. The HDAPBS was supposedly lessen the air pressure build-up in the ear canal and improves a bit on bass tone, depth and texture while RCL Network Frequency Division will enhance the seamless transmission of sonic frequencies to even out some peaks due to some resonance effect and at the same time, it will deliver a smoother treble response.



As aforementioned regarding being an IEM earphone with a hybrid driver configuration, AFUL Performer 8 has an 8mm dynamic driver with bio-cellulose diaphragm which is also known as paper-cone diaphragm which gives a deeper, more responsive and tighter bass quality. The supporting drivers which consist of 7 balanced armature drivers will handle the rest of the frequencies, from mid-bass to ultra highs in which gives a textured yet detailed midrange presentation and then, a smooth and airy treble response.



The drivers were encased along with its patented technologies in 3D moulded resin shells in a UIEM-style shape, even its internal acoustic tubes which are also moulded. Its shell chassis underwent some processes like chemical treatment to ensure stability and durability of its structural integrity. The drivers were organised and connected into a 4-way acoustic tube layout with each specific diameter size for each frequency to lessen some potential resonance peaks. The design of its faceplate appears to take inspiration from an orange-red coloured semi precious stone with some glittery surface to give that premium feel. Like its predecessor, Performer 8 utilises a 2-pin connector as its interlocking mechanism which is a standard and a better choice for ease of cable replacement and stability.



AFUL Performer 8 IEM comes along a premium cable, a 4-core high purity single crystal multi-wired silver-plated copper. The cable is quite malleable and supple to hold with enough thickness to have a balanced weight. It has a standard 3.5mm single ended as its termination plug and it was gold plated for better conductivity.



Regarding its wearability, like the AFUL Performer 5, Performer 8 has an excellent fitting due to its UIEM-style shell which is quite ergonomic as it rests well into my lugholes without discomfort or ear fatigue. It has remarkable isolation as it was able to block some external noises from the outside surroundings.



As for product packaging, the product presentation of AFUL Performer 8 is quite similar to the almost midrange sets that I have encountered so far. It has a medium-size rectangular box with a product illustration at the front and some basic specification and contact information at the back.



Here are the following contents inside of its box:

■ Pair of AFUL Performer 8 IEM

■ Stock cable

■ PU-leather round IEM storage case

■ 5 pairs of black-coloured balanced bore ear tips in different standard sizes.

■ 2 pairs of opaque wide bore ear tips in different standard sizes. (M & L only)

■ 4 pairs of black-coloured narrow bore ear tips in different standard sizes.

■ Paperwork like Q.C stub and instruction manual.



With a resistance rating of 30 ohms and high sensitivity mark of 115dB, AFUL Performer 8 is quite efficient on power amplification that a typical source with normal gain output is enough to be able to drive properly. With just a medium setting of its amplitude level, this set will already sound very complete, well-dynamic and in full range scale.



To determine its tonality, Performer 8 is more of a mild U-shaped sound profile but I also consider this set as a balanced-neutral sounding in my new classification on tonal profiles as there are mild U-shaped sounds which have different variances of texture and volume.


(The graph was provided by @koyawmohabal , credits to him)


LOWS/BASS:

The bass quality of this set is quite evened on how it presents both of its sub bass and mid-bass frequency. It has an incisive, precise and clean bass response as it is quite well-separated from other frequency parts, so assuredly, bass bleeding is nigh on impossible.

Sub bass are clearly perceived as definitely hear some rumbling and reverberation coming from sub-bass focus instruments like octabasses, low tone bass guitars, synthesisers and drum machines. Mid-bass has a rather balanced texture as it has neither lean nor thick note weight as it gives an ample volume on instruments and vocals. Bass guitars have a sombre and resonant sound as I was able to hear clearly from the plucking of their strings either fretless or slapping. Bass kick drums have those rumbling and resonant sound on every stroke that fast double bass kicks from metal and rock tracks will be effortless to be played clearly. Bass-baritones are able to have an enough dense but I also noticed that it rather less dark tone and depth to give a more gravelly sound from them.

Tracks Tested:

Sub-bass

● New Order - Blue Monday
● The Camouflage - The Great Commandment
● Oktoplut - Le delta de l'Okavango

Mid-bass

● [Patricia Morrison - Bass guitar] Sister of Mercy - Lucretia My Reflection.
● [John Bonham - Bass kick drum] Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks
● [Peter Steele - Bass-Baritone] Type O Negative - I Don't Wanna Be Me


MIDRANGE:

This is one of the highlights of this set or probably its major factor. It has good texture, forward in presentation, vivid and detail which will give a substantial body on most vocal types and instruments. It also sounds clean, transparent and well-extensive that female vocals and instruments types like strings and woodwinds will fare even better.

Male vocals have a rather decent texture, depth and volume while female vocals seems to have more emphasis as it has more energy, detail and range as it is able to project the highest register that a female singer could reach although there are some minor caveats in this one on which I expound it later. On male vocals, standard baritones have a velvety and smoothness on their voice quality but I also noticed that both verdi and kavalier baritones seems to have less fuller, less darker tone and too smooth that their distinctive characteristics lose those vivid, darker and metallic timbre. Tenors and countertenors sound better on this one as they sound more organic and able to gauge a better vocal dexterity on this set. Tenors have brassy and clear vocals with sufficient richness and strength as I was able to hear different vocal ranges of this particular voice type, from Heldentenor to the rarer Legerro tenor. Countertenors seem to have a similar tone, pitch and timbre with mezzo-sopranos in which I will explain later on the female vocal part. Contraltos appears to have rich and smokey albeit it has a less depth and a tad lighter tone in contrast that it should have a heavy one (kindly check out both Toni Braxton and Tracy Chapman's vocals). Mezzo-sopranos sound very euphonic and captivating as I was able to enjoy the tenderness, coppery and glowing vocal qualities while sopranos projects the best possible vocal quality on this set. Dramatic sopranos have rich and expressive sound from their vocals, spinto and lyric sopranos have creamy and mild sound quality, Soubrette sopranos has sweet and silky vocal timbre and coloratura sopranos have that vocal velocity that able to execute a shimmering and able to sustain upper register range but there are some snag that I should raise, it might be a tad shrilly and tinny sound to some listeners might be sensitive on this particular frequency.

On instruments, I'll start with strings and woodwind instruments as Performer 8 will give a better edge on them. Strings like guitars and violins, the former have a crisp and lingering tone as I really enjoy guitar lines in a track whether it is an acoustic or electric ones and the latter ones in which I'm always enjoying to listen on classical, orchestra or symphonic metal have a vibrant, full and lively sound on every bowing movements on its strings. On woodwinds, concert flutes have rich and ethereal sound while piccolos have bright and intense sound and then on clarinets and saxophones, they have a penetrating, brilliant and reedy sound from them. As for brasses like trumpets, horns and trombones, a metallic, brilliant and penetrating sound on trumpets, a resounding and brilliant sound on horns, and then, a penetrating and tense sound on trombones. On percussives, a dry and sharp sound from every stroke on snare drums, a resonant and dry sound on both tom toms and field drum while there's an added rumbling sound on kettledrums. Pianos have a balanced to sufficiently bright tone from them while harpsichords have a soft yet resonant sound characteristic as I listen to Baroque period pieces particularly the works of Handel.

Tracks Tested:

Vocals

● [Kavalier baritone] Dmitri Hvorostovsky/Handel - Ombra Mai Fu
● [Baritone] Eddie Vedder/Pearl Jam - Daughter
● [Spinto Tenor] Luciano Pavarotti - Nessun Dorma
● [Tenor] Robert Plant/Led Zeppelin - The Rover
● [Countertenor] Andreas Scholl/Handel - Ombra Mai Fu
● [Countertenor] King Diamond/Mercyful Fate - The Dangerous Meeting
● [Contralto] Toni Braxton - Un-Break My Heart
● [Contralto] Tracy Chapman - Fast Cars
● [Mezzo-Soprano] Nadja Michael/Bizet - Carmen
● [Mezzo-Soprano] Sharon Den Adel/Within Temptation - The Cross
● [Coloratura soprano] Diana Damrau/Mozart - Die Zauberflöte: Der Hölle Rache
● [Dramatic soprano] Tarja Turunen/Nightwish - Sleeping Sun


Instruments

● [Guitars] Eagles - Hotel California
● [Violin] Felix Ayo/Vivaldi - Summer III. Presto: Tempo impetuoso d'Estate
● [Flute] Men At Work - Down Under
● [Trumpets] Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Wagner - Der Walküre
● [Trombone] Bad Manners - Just A Feeling
● [Drums] Hellhammer/Mayhem - Buried By Time And Dust
● [Piano] Yiruma - River Flows In You
● [Harpsichord] Barry Lyndon/Handel - Sarabande


HIGHS/TREBLE:

The treble response of AFUL Performer 8 is actually quite well-balanced as I noticed and observed the evenness on upper midrange to presence part where there is a fairly enough shimmer and crisp due to a slight elevation on the upper-mids just to give a well-articulated and good attack on instruments and a more coherent vocal projection. There's a hint of tad sibilance especially when I tested some of my test tracks which are known to be sibilant-laden but I consider it as well-controlled as it doesn't occur in most cases and good thing that I don't hear any strident sound on this one.

The cymbals have a good shimmer and glistening sound while hi-hats sound quite detailed on this one with their shortened buzzing sound. Celestas have a bright and glistening sound while glockenspiels have brilliant and penetrating sound. On the brilliance treble, it has a good amount of harmonics as it was able to give more sparkle and substantially moderate air.

Tracks Tested:

Instruments

● [Cymbals] Bobby Jarzombek/Riot - Fight Or Fall
● [Cymbals + Hi-hats] - Chad Smith/ Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Getaway
● [Glockenspiel] - Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France/Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre, Op. 40
● [Celesta] - Cologne New Philharmonic Orchestra/Tchaikovsky - Dance Of The Sugar Plum


SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

As I'm quite critical on how the PERFORMER 5 sounds so intimate and congested within my head room in my previous review, AFUL PERFORMER 8 was able to fix some of its issues from sound field imaging up to the timbral incoherences. As it still doesn't have the widest sound/speaker stage set in the midrange category, but at least it has an above-average width span and good height ceiling and good depth as it gives me a moderately-sized head stage.

As for stereo imaging presentation, it projects a 3D-like spatiality as I was able to panned out certain placements of instrument and vocal with good spacing and gaps on each part of a well-organised tonal and frequency layers in a pitch black sonic canvas. Even the most complex tracks such as Jazz ensemble, Philharmonic orchestra and musical movie scores will be an easy-peasy for AFUL PERFORMER 8.

On its multi-drivers performance, it is noteworthy that all of its drivers able to deliver a very cohesive sound with a such a coherency of its dynamic driver to have faster transients response and a well-done gradual decay while the balanced armature drivers able to have a smooth and uninterrupted sonic performance.

AFUL Performer 8 has an excellent resolution capability in both macro-dynamics and micro-dynamics. As it has a rigid texture on its note weight while it also a sharp transient response as it is quite capable of extracting a substantial amount of nuances and details from an audio track.


PEER COMPARISONS:

AFUL Performer 5

● This is Performer 8's entry-level predecessor, it also has a hybrid driver configuration and it has resin shell chassis. The only difference between them physically was a shell chassis in which the Performer 5 has a tad smaller form factor and less number of balanced armature drivers that were implemented on.

● As for tuning, Performer 5 is more of a U-shaped sound profile. It has more focus on sub bass but its midbass is somewhat hollow and soft impact with recessed midrange midrange presentation in which it gives me some odd vocal and instruments timbre. Treble response of this one is quite strange as it has a noticeable peaks on its upper mids and presence treble to give that dissonant and jarring sound on brasses and sopranos and then a sudden slope down on presence to brilliance part of the treble region with a moderate amount of air and sparkle.

● On technical performance, Performer 5 is quite inferior in some aspect like sound/speaker stage size, less cohesive performance of its drivers and that tinny and metallic sound coming from its BA is very noticeable that I speculate that it might uses a cheap, run-of-the-mill balanced armature or improper implementation of dampeners.


YANYIN CANON II

● Performer 8's one of the major rivals in this price range. Like the Performer 8, it is also a hybrid driver and also has resin shell chassis though the Canon II's was a quite a tad more solid and it also has a larger size due to tuning switches. Both sets have similar asking prices.

● Due to its tuning switches, it gives a Canon II an edge over Performer 8 due to its 3-4 variants of U-shaped tuning. Overall, Even in all tuning variants that Canon II has, it is more warmer and a tad more coloured rounding. It has more dominant and tactual bass response, a warmer midrange to give more body on male vocals and brass instruments and a more smoother, less sheen on its treble response.

● Both sets have almost similar technical performance but Canon II has a bit more spacious sound/speaker stage and even more solid macro-dynamics. Although Performer 8 has a sharper definition on extracting micro-details.


THIEAUDIO HYPE 2

● Another new rival of Performer 8 and like the aforementioned set, it is also of a hybrid driver configuration and made of high quality resin shell as well. The difference was the number of drivers and implementation as HYPE 2 has dual dynamic drivers in a isobaric set-up and just two balanced armature drivers which are more premium as they are made by Sonion.

● Tonality-wise, HYPE 2 is somehow similar with the Performer 8 as they are both of a mild U-shaped sound signatures but the difference was that the HYPE 2 has more emphasis low frequencies which can be classified as a " bass boost neutral" or simply an L-shaped sound profile. It has more tactile and punchy bass response, a more linear, a tad warmer and less energetic midrange, and then, a more smoother and less shimmering treble response.

● When it comes to technical capabilities, HYPE 2 has an edge a bit over Performer 8 as it has a larger sound/speaker stage particularly in height and lateral sound field dimensions which makes it more roomy. Although the micro-detail definition of the Performer 8 is still sharper compared to HYPE 2. And the rest of their technical capabilities are quite similar on a case to case basis.


In summary, AFUL Performer 8 is a follow-up model of the previous model, The Performer 5 and there are some drastic changes between them. AFUL did some serious work and further improvement on the Performer 8 from shortcomings of the previous model like congested soundstage, inconsistencies of its tonal colour, less cohesion of its drivers and a noticeable tinny sound from their BA drivers. And finally, AFUL did an excellent job on this one and it shows that they are up for continuous refining and well-polished on their products.

As I end my assessment on AFUL Performer 8, this is another moment that first impressions last is quite irrelevant to the current state of our enthusiasm on portable audio. AFUL Performer 8 will be an excellent choice on a midrange segment if you are looking for a well-tuned, balanced sounding and impressive resolution capability that makes it more appealing towards audio enthusiasts. There are still some deficiencies on set but for its asking price, we can simply outweigh it with its more positive aspect on its tonal performance.



AFUL PERFORMER 8 is available exclusively on HIFIGO, You can check out the unaffiliated link down below.

★★AFUL PERFORMER 8 - HIFIGO★★

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: AFUL PERFORMER 8
IMPEDANCE: 30Ω
SENSITIVITY: 115dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 40KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78MM)
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER + (7) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVER(S)



Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)


Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to AFUL ACOUSTIC nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to LVY YAN of HIFIGO TEAM for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.

Disclaimer

I have been provided with Aful Audio Performer 8 IEM for review purposes. I am part of Hifigo’s review tour in India. All the impressions I provide in this review are subjective to my listening capabilities and source used. I’m in no way related to Hifigo/Aful. You can buy Aful Performer 8 IEM from the following links for $369.99/INR 32,990:

https://hifigo.com/products/aful-performer8




Description

The Aful Performer 8 IEM is a hybrid in-ear monitor that features one dynamic driver and seven balanced armatures on each side in shells made using a high-precision 3D printed resin. The package includes a high-purity monocrystalline copper silver-plated cable in a 98 wire x 4-strand configuration. The package includes the IEMs themselves, cable, Cable, few sets of eartips, and a protective case. IEMs are well built for the price and they fit perfectly without any issues. Shells are light weight.





Source Used

My portable DACAMP, Shanling H7 was used for the review purposes.



Sound Impressions

In a nutshell, Performer 8 sounds very good right out of the bat, with its clean, mid-focused sound standing out.

Bass

Bass performance is just above neutral. Nowhere near bass head levels. It’s sufficiently provided to make music enjoyable. Decay and attack are fast. Sub bass and mid bass are decent. For me this is its weaker area. Little more bass quantity would have done wonders and make this IEM an even better offering.

Mids

This is the star of the show here. Performer 8’s mids sound very very clean, and natural with very good spacing and details. Male vocals sound natural. Female vocals are natural, crisp with excellent extensions. But, upper mids sound little thin and harsh. Mids timbre and tonality is excellent. Aful has provided an excellent tuning here. Very enjoyable, easily set this apart from competition.



Treble

Treble is nicely done with good extensions. As with upper mids, there’s slight thinness/harshness in lower treble. Apart from this, treble, overall, is done in a good way. Details are presented in good way.

Technicalities

Performer 8 continues to perform in a good way, sounds coherent, very very clean, with wide open stage. Stage is more wider than depth, where it lacks a little. But still it sounds open. Resolution, detail retrieval capabilities, and dynamics are very good. Imaging and layering is good, but could have been helped if stage depth was better.

In all, Performer 8 impressed me with its super clean, open sound and coherent signature for the price it demands.

Comparison

Vs FiiO FD5

FD5 is a single DD IEM offering from FiiO, more or less falling in and around Performer 8’s price tag. Though recently it is getting sold at lesser price than Performer 8, which is a hybrid 8-driver IEM. FD5 is of metal construction compared to the resin of Performer 8. Both are comfortable for long runs and are solidly built for the price. Both come with good quality cables to start with. Coming to sound quality, straight out of the box, you will find FD5 to have more bass quantity, more stage depth but less width and more lively, energetic treble over Performer 8. But, Performer 8 pulls back some by sounding more open, spacious and clean. It boils down to preferences here, though.

Verdict

Aful Performer 8 is an excellent performer with an excellent tuning, and keeping the price tag in mind, Aful really has a winner in their hands. I haven’t heard their previous Performer 5 IEM, but from what I heard with Performer 8 in these few days, they can truly produce high quality IEMs at a bargain that are no slouches and punch above their suggested price tags. Performer 8 impresses you with its clean, coherent and open mid centric sound signature. There are definitely two cons, it being bass light and slight thin/harsh upper mids-lower treble. Even with this, it’s a good recommendation for anyone looking for an IEM with excellent tuning chops. But, for me, if it didn’t have those two cons, I would have bought it in instant. I wish it had more bass quantity to make it even better for me. But, still, Performer 8 is totally worth it.

I got to try this $370 Performer 8 hybrid IEM thanks to the review tour arranged by Aful and @gadgetgod in India

It comes with a 1DD+7BA drivers config and is tuned for a balanced mid-centric tonality. Aful has implemented a lot of tech in this little IEM from crossover PCBs to extra long acoustic tubes. Spoiler alert - the tech works!!

AFUL got a strong fan following after the release of their Performer 5. It showcased the technical prowess and expertise of Aful. So it was no surprise people expected the higher end model to perform even better. Unfortunately I haven’t heard the Performer 5 so you will have to read reviews of it online.

DESIGN

Let’s start with the design and it was very comfortable for my ears! It’s a pseudo-custom style resin shell with a smooth finish. The color choice is not my favorite but the overall fit and finish is of high quality. The location of the vent is also clever where it will not be blocked easily.


I would consider my ears to be medium sized and it fit me without any issues. The pointy bit at the top did dig into my left ear a little bit while laying down. But other than that, it’s an all day IEM. There’s no pressure buildup as well. Aful advertises a special air pressure balance system so I guess it’s working as intended here.



The 4 core cable is durable and there’s no immediate need to replace it. It is soft and pliable. It is a little microphonic and the ear hooks were a little loose for my ears but nothing deal breaking.


The hockey puck leatherette case is the perfect size for the IEM and will easily handle some abuse.

As it was a review tour sample so I didn't get all the accessories


THE SOUND

The overall tonality or sound profile of the Performer 8 can be described as Balanced with emphasis on mid region. There’s a minimal pinna gain region that starts early which makes the mids take the centre stage. This tuning is very different from other harman like tuning available in the Market. This tuning should work with the majority of genres. Let’s discuss it in details -

BASS -

The focus is on the quality rather than the quantity. The emphasis is on Sub Bass but the mid bass is not far behind. The driver gives you excellent texture on real instruments but lacks the punch that you need for electronic drums or hip hop libraries.


It is fast, controlled and can rumble with confidence when required. It is well separated from the mid range giving it an open and clean profile. It’s not a lot, though.

It can sound a little soft on certain tracks which need mid-bass quantity. But for the most part, it will not disappoint you. It can be solved with a 2-3dB eq at around 90-120Hz.

MIDS -

The star of the show! It is thick, sounds full and still has the shiny and crispy nature to the vocals. It just sounds confident no matter if it’s female or male vocal, electric guitars or brass instruments. The clean mid range paired with the great layering gives a lot of space to vocals. They are distinct and put a smile on your face when the track hits just right.

The flatter pinna gain region is something that usually puts your vocals slightly farther away from you. But for my ears, it works great and the distance is just about right. This has one caveat though, you will need to play around with the volume to get the sweet spot.



I was especially impressed by how smoothly and confidently it portrayed the brass instruments. There’s a charm to it and they appear clean even on busy passages.

But the mid range has one problem - some female vocals can lack the sharpness or you can say, they don’t sound as forward. But it is very track dependent.

TREBLE -

The treble just took me by surprise. It is smooth yet you get lots of it. Controlling this much treble is usually not easy and there’s bound to be some harshness. But not here. There’s no sibilance as well.

Even with compressed and not so well mastered tracks, you never feel sibilance and it sounds smooth. It’s hard to explain but it feels real and not artificial. It’s also not overly emphasized and never draws attention to itself. But you still hear it clearly because of the clean mids and bass.

You get a lot of shine to the cymbal hits and they don’t sound compressed. The details from instruments just pop out at you. The smooth and gradual transition from the mids to the treble on the graph actually translates to what you hear.

The lower treble can creep into the vocals but it does not sound bad. This adds a strong edge to the notes and it may be a bit unnatural but for most tracks, it is not an issue.

TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE -

In terms of soundstage you get more depth than width. The width is not bad but I was expecting a little more given how well behaved the treble is. But the depth you get is excellent and you get lots of layers. The reverb and size of the room can be felt through the Performer 8 and if your library consists of songs with live performances then you will be rewarded. It’s not holographic but the image you get is still respectable and you can feel the placement of the instruments.

I tested it with some movies as well and it has this forward, away from your face presentation that makes you surprised at times. The background score surrounds you and the dialogues are staged center. The center image is exactly dead center indicating excellent channel matching



Resolution is great and there is no lack of details. You hear every breath, string pull with clarity and confidence. It’s a repeating theme - the performer 8 has this confidence in it’s delivery that is hard to define. My non-audiophile friend explained it best - “It just makes you feel the singer” and I share a similar sentiment.

But improvements can be made. The lack of width in soundstage can make some tracks sound concentrated in the center especially if the song itself does not have a wide production and has a lot of treble.

Conclusion

You may have noticed I have used the word confidence a lot and it’s the best way I can describe the Performer 8. It just sounds good, smooth and musical. The build quality and overall sound quality makes you want to plug it in your ears for hours. It may not have the best and strongest bass or the widest holographic soundstage but yet whatever it has, it delivers with conviction.

I will be honest here, I am not an owner of high priced IEMs but I have listened to some truly TOTL IEMs. The Aful Performer 8 gets really close! Aful deserved an awful lot of respect for trying to change the price game.

Thanks to hifigo and Pulkit Dreamzz for organising the review tour of the Aful Performer 8, the successor of the generally well regarded P5.
As usual, the impressions are mine only with zero influence of anything/anyone else.

PACKAGE AND BUILD

The iems come in a mid sized cardboard box with a minimalistic approach. The iems are present in the foam cut out, while the brown/silver cables in 3.5mm termination and 2 pin at the shell end coming in a nice round faux leather case.
Under the foams, there is a selection of tips with various colors and sizes. and a product literature booklet.

The iems are dark resin shells with a nice faceplate that is reminiscent of recent iems from other manufacurers across priceranges. The cable is a SPC cable with 4 core braided cables that is supple and nice feeling.

FIT AND COMFORT​

These are some of the better fitting iems even for small ears. There is a very small wing at the back that has a nice dip and sits very nicely in the ear. The nozzle is medium-small and very comfortable. The nozzles fit the sony tips very well, and indicates a very comfortable longtime wear.

Well done in the fit department. The iems are lightweight and one can practically wear it for a long time without much issues.


Similarly, the cable being nice and supple, wear very comfortably around the ears. The 4 core braid ensures that there is not much of a weight and this does not pull the iems in any way. No microphonics either.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS​

I drove the iems off the Tanchjim Space dongle on the 3.5mm and 4.4mm taps with an aftermarket cable. The sound was consistent with both inputs.
The selection of tracks from Qobuz, youtube premium and flac was used to test the iems.

Bass - These iems are not basshead iems. That said, they do have a decent punch in both mid bass rumble as well as palpable slam in the subbass areas on selected tracks. The textures come across nicely although a little softer than other basshead focussed iems. (3.75/5)

Mids - These iems are mid forward. They have a sense of a lot of air in the mids, making the vocals sound prominent and spacious. Both male and female vocals are provided good amount of support. However, sometimes this can be too much off a good thing. There can be honkiness on some tracks in the upper mids. This can also come out as being a little harsh in the upper mids/lower treble. (4/5)

Treble - There is good extension and space in the treble areas. There isnt much details lost in translation, be it imaging or staging. The size of stage is quite wide and a above average depth, like a large hall. (4/5)

COMPARISONS​

The other mid focussed iems that I have on hand are the Juzear 41T and the Kinera Imperial Urd, and hence I will compare them with the P8, which is priced between the 2 iems.



Juzear 41T - The Juzear 41T was a recent acquisition and has a slightly larger nozzle than the P8. The size and weight is very similar between the 2. The key area where the 41T pulls a little ahead of the P8 is in the upper mids. Where the P8 sounds a bit honky, the 41T is a little more controlled. However, the bass on the P8 is slightly stronger.

Kinera Imperial Urd - The Urd is one of my favorite mid focussed iems at a much higher price bracket than the P8. Understandably, it has better performance across the board. However, the difference is much narrower than the prices make out and hence the comparison still stands valid.

CONCLUSIONS​

The P8 is a very good performer in the mid budget segment, offering good fit with airy soundscapes that is not the traditional harman tuned. With a good mix of technical chops and fit, it performs very well.

AFUL PERFORMER 8 - "Effortless"



DISCLAIMER:
Same old same old. A tour unit from HiFiGo . I give my heartfelt gratitude to them. Like really.

On a serious note, nothing much to say here, other than I have my own preferences. So please cross reference reviews. My impressions are only relative to the number of IEMS I have heard.

Anyhow, this is my user experience of the Performer 8.

Let’s start

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?


Here is my unboxing video for that:



To summarize, you get the same inclusions from Performer 5, except for the cables and IEMs themselves. You get:

1.) SML aful eartips- they are awful, don’t use them

2.) Carrying case – similar to a hair pomade case haha

3.) Box – you don’t need this

4.) Papers – you don’t need this!!!

5.) The IEMS – uhmm yeah

DESIGN and COMFORT:

They fit relatively the same as the the P5s, but maybe a bit bulkier? Just from memory tho, it must be because of the internals added. They also feel a bit heavier. I do notice some strain depending on eartips, but so far, just average fit for me.

The shell design is very very similar to the P5s as well, but a bit different in color grading. Yeah that's all I can say..

THE TECHNOLOGY:
I was amazed when Aful posted their first photo of the Performer 8. They have this tube structure that looks like intestines haha. I have seen this design structure before, maybe from Fiio?

Anyhow, I will summarize what I understand about their technology.
They have implemented the same RLC technology for the performer 8 but added longer tubes for the DD. The company said that longer tubes changes the acoustic impedance.

The DD is an 8mm biological warfare, no no, diaphragm haha. The DD is being supported by two other BAs, which is quite interesting.

There are also two BAs for the midrange and three BAs for the high frequencies. So that’s a total of 8 drivers.

They also have this “high damping air pressure balance system”- that's a mouthful. Well, basically it relieves pressure in the ear canal.

Yeah this thing works. I don’t know for others, but AFUL does a great job in implementing air pressure systems. Compared to other hydrids or Full BA setups, the pressure build up on the Performer 8 is lesser and they are more comfortable to wear in long listening sessions.

SOUND:

The tuning is neutral with mids emphasis, which makes this set midcentric. Well, these also have good subbass and microdetails in the treble, but the overall tonality seem to focus more on instrument presence.

Bass texure is commendable that sits just right on my preferences. Satisfying subbass emphasis. Just clean bass.

Mids come out forward with nice tones to instruments. Guitars have good harmonics and vocals are never shouty. Although, it can do some work in proper vocal timbre.

Treble is inoffensive for me and presents a smoother response compared to P5. Cymbals still doesn’t sound that natural for me, but still good enough to enjoy my tracks.

Technicalities punches above its price point. The resolution, the texture, the stage. You get the taste what expensive sets sound like, at a lower cost. These are not better than TOTL sets, let me get that straight. But making me remember how TOTL sounds is a big complement.

The Surprise

In my video, I was constantly saying OMG like a freaking shill, well maybe I am haha. One reason for this is I had a rough idea on how they were priced. I saw a comment on facebook about someone who went to an expo in China, and posted a photo on the expected price of performer 8 which is around $360. It is an interesting price point because not a lot of sets are priced around this range. It skips the Blessing 3, while being a few dollars cheaper than some good sets in the $400 range.

Having said that, the performance of the P8 is undoubtedly great for its price. You definitely get an upgrade in sound quality from the Blessing twins, while being competitive on sets that are more expensive like the Softears Studio 4 and Dunu SA6 Mkii.

It shares a similar curve to that of the Dunu SA series and Anole VX/Gemini. The gain is tamed to prevent any shout and harshness whilst having that forward vocal presentation.

What surprised me a lot is how smooth sounding they are, relative to how they are graphed. The upper treble timbre is significantly better compared to SA6 Mkii, at least for me. The stage is wide while having enough depth, and the bass hits my preferences. All that sound for $360? Yeah, I am surprised too!

A hyped product does not mean good sound for everyone.

Okay, so the Performer 8 is hyped big time. Most reviewers including me are praising them like it’s the end game everyone can afford.

As of this writing, all the videos I watched seem to have similar findings with me. But as days passed by, I read comments that P8 wasn’t that good for them. People are starting to find weaknesses of the P8, like the honky vocals, the lack of midbass, the BA treble etc.

In all honesty, I also found the same weaknesses of the P8, but the PROS just outweighs the CONS. I have some assumptions why P8 is hyped tho.

1. Reviewers including me just have a bad taste in evaluating stuff haha

2. Reviewers including me see the larger picture having tried different sets in different price range. Trust me, there is not a lot of good stuff past $800, at least for my preferences. I can probably only count them with my fingers. Maybe around 10.

3. Reviewers including me seek validity. Humans as we are, we are prone to this. Well actually the hobby is largely run on seeking validation. Its just more fun that way. Imagine having your endgame set without no one to share it with haha.

I don’t think there is anything wrong in disliking a set tho. It is normal to be skeptical and it almost always happens on a hyped set. I explained the nocebo effect in my EA500 review.

OMG I am talking a lot, lets get back to sound

The improvement

Well yeah. Ill be honest, I did not like the P5 a lot. Well, the prototype I first tried did sound really good, and I was really guilty shilling the P5, only to find out that I didn’t really like the set when I reviewed it lol. Sorry.

The Performer 8 is undeniably better sounding than the P5 for me. Should you still believe me? Hahaha.

Anyhow, I have tried two sets of Aful performer 8. They sound the same, they graph the same, and I get the same feeling about them.

The bass is tighter and more nuanced. They have this quality of being visceral in impact. I tried EDM tracks and yeah, the quantity might not be a lot, but the quality makes up for it. The vocals and instruments are also more natural sounding. One friend mentioned that he hears some honk in the vocals. Probably that 1k elevation? At first I didn't notice this, but after hearing Ed sheerans “ shape of you”, his voice sounded like he got covid lol. Some vocal registers exhibit this, but this CON is very minor unless you are very particular on vocal timbre.

The treble is improved over the P5 too! They P8 sounds less grainy for me, smoother, but more detailed, or should I say, the decays are more natural.

It still has that little boost in the upper treble, around 13k, but not as exaggerated as the SA6 mkii.
The stage is improved too. I get better stage depth and width. They don't sound congested at all. Stage congestion was one of thr major cons of the P5 for some people. I am happy to say that instruments and vocals are well placed in the P8, not the best, but definitely better than most sets in the price range.

Why spend much?

Performer 8, along with the Studio 4, are one of the IEMS that offer great value in my opinion.

I have probably heared 30+ TOTLs when I was in Japan for two years. I was in a hunt for my own endgame, but in all honesty, it is very evasive. Because the more I hear, the more my preference get skewed to a different tonality.

TOTLs usually have ESTs and these drivers just offer better clarity in the treble when done right.

As for the Performer 8. Although no ESTs were used, I think Aful did a great job with their implemenation of the drivers and their patented technology. They sound like TOTLs for my ears really. Not a direct competetion in terms of overall performance, but I get a feeling of "why spend much?"



PROS

Great echoes and reverb. The P8 tends to mimic decay in an bigger venue. Yoasobi’s Gunjo feels like listening in a hall rather than in a room.

Great balance of bass and treble. I do not find them to be overly boomy in the bass, nor too exaggerated in the treble. The tuning is really smooth from end to end.

in the track “love moves in mysterious ways” by Nina, the soundstage is again portrayed like I am in a big hall, or at least represents the correct venue.

ever heard of "nandemonaiya" by Radwimps? The vocals presence is amazing. Separation of the two guitars is amazing, the harmonics and presence is really well executed. The low bass hit at 1:44 is surprisingly good. it reverberates like you are in a Cinema.

in the track “Face to face” by IU, the bass texture really shines on this set. I immediately knew this sound is up there man. The tone really feels like a real drum for my ears.

I thought the P8 is bass light until I tried Dua Lipa’s “don’t start now”. Oh man do they slap a** haha.

CONS
-I honestly couldn’t find any major flaws of the P8. Either it hits my preferences very well, or I'm just outright shilling this . Anyhow, I will try my best to nitpick this set.

slight honkiness of vocals in certain registers. Not apparent in every track, but worh mentioning for people who are sensitive to vocal timbre

bass level might not be for everyone. Try to Auto EQ between SA6 mkii and P8 and see which bass level hits you the best.

a little bit of gain or maybe a dip at presence can help for better vocal space. I noticed that Studio 4 has better vocal layering because the gain peaks at 2.5k and gradually declines to a dip. For me, it creates this illusion of a 3d stage.

eartips. Don’t use them

they are actually bulkier than the P5. In my first impression video, I mentioned that the fit is very good. But after using for a week, I noticed that they strain some parts of my ears when I choose the wrong eartips. Tip roll if you may.

a little bit of midbass can help a bit on metal tracks. I noticed that they are not that engaging on dj-dj dj-dj- djjjents haha.They sound dry.

COMPARISONS

DUNU SA6 mkii/ultra
-If I were to rate them, it would be ultra>p8> mkii.

They tonality is uncanny. The ultra just edges the p8 in terms of overall resolution. The mkii is also more resolving than the P8, but I am not happy with the bass and treble elevation. Maybe you will like it tho. However, considering the price point, the P8 is significantly cheaper and to think that it compete with SA6 series is a big praise.

Studio 4
If you have the extra cash to spare $80 more, I suggest just go straight to studio 4. The studio 4 is just more refined, better techs, better timbre on vocals and instruments, just better everything for me haha.

Okay I will explain. Although the P8 has a DD for the bass, I think the Studio 4 performs better. I am not saying that the bass of the P8 is a slouch, no no, they are great. However the studio 4 just sounds very revealing and tighter. You do get more vacuum from the Studio 4, so if you are sensitive to that, better pick the P8s.

Also, the stage of P8 is wider but lesser in depth. As for the Studio 4, it is more proportionate and rounded, like you are in a room with your artists. Surprisingly tho, I always feel like the reverbs and echoes of the P8 lingers longer, giving me that feeling of a more open space akin to gig outdoors or a hall.

Mega5p
-the M5p is here because these are my current reference when testing sets. Well, I must say that the P8 is better in resolution and micro details. However, for overall engagement, Mega5p still has it. There is a reason why I make the M5p my reference. I don’t want to miss out on musicality whilst resetting my ears.

SCORING
-Please be reminded that my scoring is always based on its price range.

TONALITY - 3
BASS - 2.5
MIDS - 3
TREBLE - 2.5
TECHS - 3

=14 ( S rank,exceptional. Consider saving if you want a reference set with TOTL qualities)

Check my scoring criteria here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15WhgCgiMzWfF3ccgB8SK5-Cg7m87kpIShtxsyg2u-AI/edit?usp=sharing

GRAB SCORE:
This is easy, I just rate the set whether I would grab them for listening. Very subjective.

- I will never touch this again

- I grab if I remember

- Can be part of my rotation

- I break my rotation and grab this one today

- *** rotation, I’ll listen to these for the whole week

- Im selling everything, I will only listen to these haha.

So the Performer 8 gets a

There is something about the Performer 8's smoothness that makes me grab them for a short listening sessions. Probably because they are inoffensive? There are other fun sets tho, but this set is really perfect for morning coffee listening.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

The Performer 8 does perform. They are a solid upgrade to the P5 in all honesty. But yes, also an upgrade in cost. Does it justify the price hike tho? I think so. Having compared P8 to more expensive sets make them a bang for the buck, that’s if you have the buck haha.

The price of the P8 is in a weird spot tho. You have the gatekeeping blessings at $300, and yet bottlenecked by Studio 4 above $400. Please keep in mind that I have not heard everything in this price range, so my impressions are limited.

Having said that, I can recommend the Performer 8 for people who are looking for a balanced to neutral set. It doesn’t have any annoying peaks, no boom boom bass, no shout, and better timbral accuracy compared to the P5s.

I really had a hard time thinking of what to say about the Performer 8, mainly because they are not particularly doing anything wrong and yet excels just enough to be called a great set, if not for the price as mentioned above.

Contrary to my experience in writing this review, which required a lot of mental exertion haha, the Performer 8 seems to be presenting music like a pro performer-Just effortless.

==========================
WHERE TO BUY: non affiliate links

https://hifigo.com/products/aful-performer8

HiFiGo AFUL Performer8 1DD+ 7BA Driver in-Ear Monitors, Masterpieces Hybrid Drivers IEMs in-Ear Earphones with Easy Driveability (Performer 8) https://a.co/d/grpNNvw

Just found this amazing item on AliExpress. Check it out! ￥ 54,117 | AFUL Performer8 / Performer 8 1DD+7BA Hybrid IEMs In-ear Monitor Wired Earphones with High-purity OCC Silver-plated Cable HiFiGo
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqxwcmu

MY LIBRARY:
I grew up listening to 90’s music. Alternative, punk-rock, screamo, rap, Philippine OPM, Anime songs, JPOP, KPOP, metal, reggae and a lot more.
The artists I regularly listen to are:

Rock-Alternative-Metal
Incubus, 311, BMTH, Matchbox 20, The Goo Goo Dolls, Paramore, Polyphia, The Calling,, Babymetal, Metallica, Slipknot, Bon Jovi, Coheed and Cambria, Deftones, Red Hot, Green day,

OPM(Original Pinoy Music):
E-heads, Slapshock, Parokya, Urbanddub, Up Dharma Down, Bamboo, IV of spade, Kamikazee, Rivermaya

POP:
IU, Yoasobi, Yorushika, Milet, Reona, Maroon 5, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Taylor, Dua Lipa, Oliva Rodrigo, Billie Eilish

OTHERS:
Carpenters, Micheal Learns to Rock, Celine Dion, Bob Marley, Sitti, Daft Punk, Pink Floyed, Earth wind and fire, Amber rubarth, Sia, Yosi Horikawa

I listen to more, but I can’t just list them all here.haha. Just giving you an idea on what I listen.

Thanks for reaching here. Hope you enjoyed reading.

Review OF The Aful Performer 8​

Introduction​

Aful, a recently founded Chinese company renowned for the distinctive technology it uses in its electroacoustic products, released its first IEM in 2022 known as the Aful Performer 5. Many audiophiles in this community were very pleased with the Performer 5, especially considering the price. They developed into one of the fiercest rivals in this price range. Recently, they introduced Performer 8, the older sibling of Performer 5, another one of their products. Regarding many IEMs, especially in their details sector, this one has already been dubbed the TOTL killer. In this review, we'll learn more about performer 8, but first, allow me to clarify a few points.

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 "Performer 8."
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Performer 8 based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

The hybrid driver configuration used by the Performer 8 consists of 7 balance armature drivers and 1 dynamic driver. The 8mm biological diaphragm dynamic driver handles the low end, and the balanced custom armatures are arranged as follows: The first two BA cover lower frequencies, the next two midrange frequencies, and the final three BA cover high frequencies. A four way crossover is used to pair each driver. The 62.55mm bass tube, which is incredibly thin and long, along with the 46.77mm mid-bass tube and the 10.61mm mid range tube, are all 3D printed acoustic tubes that are used in all of the drivers. A high dampening air-pressure balance system and RLC (resistor, capacitance, and inductance) frequency division technology are also used by the performer 5. The Performer 8's exterior shell feels a little bit larger than the Performer 5's, despite fitting perfectly like the Performer 5's in terms of technology and structure. The Shell's faceplate has layers of different colours that blend together to create a shimmery appearance that makes it beautiful to behold. Long listening sessions are comfortable and easy with the lightweight shells. The Performer 8's included cable is a high purity monocrystalline copper silver-plated cable with 98 wires arranged in a 4-strand configuration. One end of the cable has a detachable 2 pin connection, and the other has a 3.5mm termination straight plug. A round leather storage case and a variety of eartips in various sizes are included among the other accessories in addition to the IEM and the cable. In terms of the technical details, the sensitivity is 110dB, and the impedance is 35 Ohms. 5Hz to 35kHz is the range of the frequency response.

​

Sound​

Before I discuss the Performer 8's sound, I'd like to point out that if the imaging staging and the separation were larger and better placed, these would have easily—and without a shadow of a doubt—rivaled TOTL/Endgame IEMs. I realise that this is asking too much of a 370 USD IEM, but I wonder what kind of revolution they might have brought about. Returning to the sound, these have a brighter sound rather than a balanced one with a healthy boost to the subbass. Although different from other IEMs, which tend to sound more like a Harman tuned IEM, the sound coming from these is so amazing that I felt relieved hearing from a different aspect of how sound can be perceived. The sound is peculiar and different from other IEMs. The treble is astonishingly clear and highly detailed. The midrange has a vibrant and full sound. The bass does not have a punchy or hard hitting sound; rather, it is well controlled, adds depth to the punches, and makes the response realistic and full. The overall signature is unlike anything I've heard before, and even though I usually dislike IEMs with tuning that isn't close to my preference tuning, it has no bearing on how I evaluate them. Nevertheless, listening to these IEMs makes me feel at peace because they have such a rich, immersive sound that immerses you in every nuance of the music. Let me give a more detailed, expressive description.

Treble​

The treble slaps you with a grand amount of details with such ease that I immediately thought that these might be the most detailed IEMs under $500 that I have heard to date. The more I listen to them, the more details I learn because I find myself listening to them so intrigued and interested. The romance keeps me pursuing them. However, there is a sufficient amount of these that is satisfying to listen to with details and such clarity that makes the sound transparent and can easily be approachable to nuances made in this region. The vocals spread out as much as they can without degrading into single notes or producing any offensive sound. The upper treble is, of course, not very expansive and open sounding like it sounds airy and vast. When instruments come on stage with such clarity and sharp notes that never cross the line into sounding sibilant or peaky, the same effect is felt. The energy flows from lower treble to upper treble so smoothly that I never question any note loss. The lower treble sounds lively and as clear as the upper treble. Even though the timbre is not very natural and of course occasionally, I do find spills of BA timbre, that is to say, that is at a minimum, the note weight and density is also maintained greatly. The male vocals, in my opinion, sound a little off compared to the female vocals in this region, which sound expressive and lively. The instruments' lively sound makes the notes' presentation sparkle. Overall, the treble region is presented in a remarkably clear and detailed manner with just the right amount of energy.

Mid Range​

The vocals are one of the most adored aspects of the mid range because they are so lovely and melodious and have such a strong hold on the listener's attention. Not only the vocals keep me at ease, but also the way the instruments complement the vocals in unison, trying to sound as pleasant and smooth as possible. Even when we talk about more expensive IEMs, many IEMs are unable to convey this presentation. The midrange's dominance over the sense of timbre or tonality makes it difficult to decide whether it is appropriate to discuss either concept. This stands out even more in comparison to other IEMs at this price point because of its strong suppressive nature. Of course, not everything is perfect; in fact, no IEM is perfect; if I were to speak, the only flaw in these IEM is their positioning, which makes them sound more stereo. Even though this is my opinion regarding the mid range, let's return to the informational facts. Similar energy is present in the upper mid range as in the lower treble. The vocals and instruments both sound as crisp and lively as they did in the lower treble region, but the vocals and instruments sound more open and rich with more characteristics in the mix. The appropriate word to use is fullness; the presentation of the vocals and instruments gives the impression that they are richer and fuller. The male vocals have that huskiness and girth that can literally be felt, whereas the female vocals come across as a little more subdued. The richness and fullness of the instruments and vocals, as well as the proper note density, which brings out a more natural presentation, are brought out by the lower mid range, which is new to me. Since the BA timbre ruins the organic timbre of the notes, I'm not sure if I can agree that the entire midrange sounds natural, but that is only when I rarely hear it. The mid range's very nature prevents metallic or sharp sounds from coming through while still sounding detailed. The lower midrange vocals and instruments don't sound worn out or muffled; rather, they basically maintain the tonal balance and give the higher frequencies a fullness. The bass guitars sound as full-bodied as they ought to. The mid range is presented in a comprehensive, dynamic, and rich manner.

Bass​

Although the Performer 5 concentrates on producing controlled bass, this type of bass creates a more three-dimensional presentation. I find it to be very well segregated and this is not what I anticipated. Even though the mid bass lacks presence and the sub bass is obviously the focus, I find it to be satisfying. When listening to bass-heavy tracks, the sub bass extends deep and the rumbles resonate in the ear canal, giving the listener a tingling sensation, but it never tries to take over the entire presentation. The punches and slams don't seem to hit particularly hard or anything, but they do bring out enough force to restrain the influence. Even though I think the slams and thumps don't sound natural and the mid bass lacks weight and warmth, it sounds thick when the bass guitar is playing. It is a sub bass focused IEM because of the recessed mid bass region, but even then, the sub bass lacks impact. To put it simply, the impact of punches and slams could have given the 200-300Hz sounds more character and made them sound more realistic. However, it is undeniably well controlled, which also enhances the texture and details and, to be honest, makes every note that is struck sound complete and accurate. Overall, the bass presentation is precise, complete, and well-controlled.

Technical Performance​

The Performer 8 faces a hit-or-miss situation in terms of technical performance because other IEMs in this price range aggressively compete with it in terms of performance. Of course, the Performer 8 brings the best there is, but it does have some flaws as well. Let's discuss it further.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

If I had to describe the soundstage, I would say that it is more immersive than close-miked because it doesn't bring every element up close but the positioning and accuracy are off. It is also more stereo because the sound is focused more on the left and right, where it also lacks depth. Though it is sharp in conveying, the imaging is also not very clear or precise. Since it can be a little difficult to determine where each element's sound is coming from, the separation between the elements is also not very clear or distinct. As a result, the absence of these qualities causes the nuances added to the mix to disperse unevenly.

Speed & Resolution​

The macro details and microdetails bring out the best in the notes, and the resolution is excellent with the details being very expressive and exploitive. I expected a little bit more from the notes' attack and decay, but they still don't disappoint with their resolvability. They should have been faster.

Sound Impressions​

Sources​

Tempotec V6 - The sound is incredible when combined with the V6, having a smooth and detailed response. The offensiveness in the mix also appears to be under control, as sibilance or sharp notes don't frequently emerge, especially on bright sounding tracks. The bass plays very well and has excellent control over any influencing behaviour it may produce. The treble is as detailed as ever and sounds clean with smooth response. The technicalities aren't really affected because, despite the really excellent resolution, I still think the imaging and staging could be better. This pairing was my favourite by far.

iFi Hipdac - As anticipated, the sound was more entertaining while maintaining the same level of detail when used in conjunction with the Hipdac. The midrange sounded even more forward than before with a little sibilance introduced that frequently rose in the mix, while the notes sounded a little soft with a little reccessed and rounded treble. Better note weight and density made the bass more dense, giving the mid bass more characteristics. The specifics didn't seem to be affected much, but the technicalities were. However, the Performer 8 gave off a fun and exciting impression. Although I didn't particularly like this pairing.

Tracks Used​

Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Guns 'N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeRs
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measures
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex, Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

I will not deny that these are TOTL killers, but they are obviously not polished enough to compete with any TOTL IEM. However, the justification they offer is simply revolutionary. I adore how the Aful is developing into a beautiful brand, and I can't wait to see what they have in store for us in the future. The technology and tuning they employ have yielded excellent results, and the sound they produce ultimately brings you peace. I would without a doubt suggest this IEM to anyone looking to get a TOTL IEM experience at an affordable price.

The Performer 8 is Aful’s latest hybrid IEM offering and is the big brother to the very popular Performer 5. Of course, it's always exciting to try new stuff but admittedly, my anticipation was slightly intensified given the Performer 5’s success. If you’ve seen my review of the Performer 5, you’ll know that it’s currently one of my top picks for the $200 price bracket. What makes things even more interesting is that Aful is a new company, and the Performer 5 was their very first release. Given the intense competition within the “under $500'' market, the heightened degree of anticipation for the release of the Performer 8 is understandable.

SPECIFICATIONS AND DESIGN
The Performer 8 is priced at $369 and has a hybrid driver configuration consisting of 1 dynamic and 7 balanced armature drivers. And like the Performer 5 the drivers are housed in a 3D printed shell but according to Afuls website, it's not your typical 3D printing technology. Instead, this method is typically used in the medical field and is supposed to be much more precise compared to the traditional method. Those claims seem very reasonable as the build quality and design does seem to be a step up from most other IEMs at this price point. The included 2 pin cable is also very good at this price, however, it only comes in a 3.5 mm option.

In terms of the build and its internal acoustic structure, they took a similar approach as with the performer 5. However, the Performer 8 takes it a step further and apparently increases the lengths of the acoustic tubes three fold. It also increases the tube count from three to four and the crossover from a three-way to a four-way. Then finally, the driver matching has also been optimized. It appears Aful has gone beyond simply increasing the driver count and has taken the time and effort to also fine tune and further, re-engineer practically every other aspect of the Performer 8. But the question is, do those changes actually translate into quantifiable improvements?




SIGNATURE
The sound signature of the performer 8 is what I would consider to be basically neutral. With the bass having a more subtle presentation, relaxed upper mids and good treble energy. There is also excellent extension in both directions so we have nice amounts of sub bass and upper treble presence.


BASS
The bass and mid bass quantity is what I would consider to be more relaxed, and while the dynamic driver delivers nice amounts of slam, impact, and even gives you a nice visceral sensation, my guess is their intentions were more focused on bass accuracy and refinement and less focused on “fun”. They also apparently paid very close attention to the transition out of the lower mids into the mid bass around 200 hz because while the bass presentation is what I would consider to be on the relaxed side, it’s generally, quite controlled, clean and refined. The Performer 8 also has excellent mid bass, lower mid range texture and detail for this price range.



MIDS
The Performer 8 takes a slightly more unique approach to its upper mid-range tuning, similar to what you might hear with the Dunu SA6 series. This approach deviates from the more common, mid forward Harman style signature and gives instruments and vocals a more relaxed presentation. And while instruments and vocals might be slightly less forward in the overall mix, they still maintain adequate energy and offer an even richer, fuller presentation, not typically found in a Harman style tuning. Vocals and instruments also sound very natural, have good texture and seem to resolve adequately.

TREBLE
The treble is unquestionably my favorite aspect of the Performer 8. Because of the approach they took with the rest of the tuning, the treble has very good energy without sounding harsh or peaky. Cymbals and hi hats sound natural and have very good detail and seem to be controlled so, again, they’re not harsh, peaky or overly splashy sounding. There is also very good overall treble detail, and good upper treble presence past 10k giving you more than enough sparkle and air.



TECHNICALITIES
The technical performance of the Performer 8 is good for its price. The soundstage is very wide for an IEM. Instrument imaging is reasonably focused although It's not the best I've heard at this price. Instrument and vocal placement is accurate. Detail retrieval is also excellent and is among the best I’ve heard in this price range.

COMPARISONS



Moondrop Blessing 3 ($319)
The Performer 8 is slightly more balanced and doesn’t have the upper mid and treble forwardness that is present with the blessing 3. Instruments and vocals also sound more natural IMO. But beyond that, the Performer 8 is simply a step up in terms of overall performance. So in terms of both tuning and technical performance I feel the Performer 8 could be considered a direct upgrade from the Blessing 3.



Softears Studio 4 ($449)
The Studio 4 does offer slightly increased performance over the performer 8 and is what I would consider to be the IEM to beat at the $500 price point. The Studio 4 offers a refined, more balanced tuning, and better technical performance in my opinion. Bottom line, the Studio 4 is what I would consider to be the direct upgrade from the Performer 8. That being said, the Performer 8 only cost $369, not $450, so it's an automatic win at this price. For $80 less you can get very close to the performance levels of the Studio 4.



SUMMARY
The Performer 8 is yet another solid offering from Aful and, based on the IEM’s I’ve owned or listened to, it’s the IEM to beat at the $400 price point. While this price point may represent a sparsely occupied territory in the IEM market, its impact cannot be overstated. The reality is, companies like Aful are making what used to be unattainable, attainable.

Overview:

Up for review today is the AFUL Performer8 (P8). This is the latest IEM from AFUL, which is either the worst or the best company name ever. Previously, AFUL was known for their Performer5 – which managed to dethrone the famous Moondrop Blessing 2 as one of the best high-end “budget” IEM picks. I listed the Final A5000 above the Blessing 2 as well, so really, the question is, how does the extra 3-driver version of the Performer…perform?

The P8 uses 1 DD for bass and 6 BAs for the mids and highs. It also contains an air-pressure relief system so no painful pressure build-up on the ears over long-listening periods. The P8 retails for $370 and you can get one with fast shipping here: https://amzn.to/3oPhEvN. I paid full price for these because I am a masochist. More on the other parts of this IEM are below.



Accessories/Earpads/Eartips (8/10):

This is always a difficult section for me to write because I’ve seen $20-80 IEMs come with excellent accessories (Truthear) and I’ve seen $3k IEMs come with crap accessories (far too many). So, when I see that the P8 comes with a decent-sized box, good padding, a leather carrying case, and 6 pairs of ear tips, I’m not mad at it because it’s more than some kilobuck+ IEMs come with. So, I’d list this as the bare minimum that an IEM should come with – way better than some offerings from FiR for instance. On the other hand, the $80 Truthear HEXA comes with a similar offering, but more ear tips. So, it’s a nice package, but nowhere near something like the Noble Ronin or FAudio Mezzo LE. So, it’s enough to earn it 8/10 points, but not enough to push it into the upper echelons, even at this price (which is low for high-end and high for low-end).

As always, I’m using my Spinfit W1 tips since they’re the best tips I’ve found (you can buy them here if you want a set: https://amzn.to/3WDrNIk.)



Cable (7/10):

This is a pretty good stock cable. It has good sound, good coloration, good thickness, good weight, and good flexibility with only minor wire memory. It also has quite good microphonics with very little noise when turning my head or tapping on the cable. My biggest gripe here of course is that there is no 4.4mm balanced connector for better power (and sound on some IEMs – Orchestra Lite for instance). 3.5mm is convenient since almost everything still comes with a 3.5mm port, but at this price, we’re entering into mid-to-high-end territory depending on who you ask. At this price level, quite a few people have a 4.4mm jack or an XLR-4 they can adapt to 4.4mm. It’s very easy to adapt 4.4mm to 3.5mm, but impossible to make a 3.5mm into a balanced cable, even with a 4.4mm adapter. So yeah, that bugs me since you can get the excellent Truthear SHIO DAC/AMP with a 4.4mm adapter for only $70 (https://amzn.to/3qA4Tpj). Anyways, enough 4.4mm rant, this is a good stock 3.5mm cable in 2-pin and ears the P8 a 7/10 points. If you want a cable that can switch between 3.5mm, 2.5mm, and 4.4mm, I recommend the Kinnera Leyding or Ace/Magic Rope (https://amzn.to/3OW13kN and https://amzn.to/3CfmOEr).



Build Quality/Comfort (9/10):

The build quality is basically classic acrylic quality. I don’t anticipate any cracking or issues with the shells. I get some serious Monarch Mk2 vibes from these IEMs (though I think the MMk2 still sounds a bit better). The two IEMs look almost identical color-wise. Sadly, I hate the color scheme on both – it’s not my taste, I prefer the MMk1 over either of these (I won’t take points off for personal taste though). The P8 does add an interesting vertical stripe pattern the MMk2 didn’t have though and I think they look slightly (ever so slightly) better than the MMk2. They are nowhere near as gorgeous in my opinion as the Sound Rhyme SR8 or Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite (OL - https://amzn.to/45Rx8Qv). Still, the build quality seems on par with most of this type of IEM (and it feels a bit more premium than say…the Aroma Audio Jewel or OL for instance thanks to the solid fill.

While these do give me MMk2 vibes, they are certainly smaller and more comfortable than the ginormous MMk2. They do put a small amount of pressure on my inner ear since they fit inside more than a lot of higher-end IEMs. They’re nowhere near the comfort perfection that the Final A5000 (https://amzn.to/45OPe5P) are, but they’re better than a lot of recent IEMs that keep growing in size in every direction. I’m giving these a 9/10 in this category since they do well, but are not perfect.



Sound:

Check out the wolfhawk.squig.link below to see how these compare to the two other IEMs that I consider to be the closest in price and performance, the A5000 and the OL. All three of these track pretty closely to each other, with the P8 having the most mid/sub-bass, followed closely by the A5000 and lastly the OL. The OL dips pretty hard in the lower mids and then peaks earlier than the A500 in the highs while the P8 has very muted treble comparatively. Upper mids presence is a battle between the A5000 and the OL with both focusing on different instruments to highlight. All three have a downward slope past 3.5k with a minor peak between 8-9k.



I am powering these from my HiBy R6Pro II using the 3.5mm jack on medium gain with the A/B amplifier (since the battery sucks enough as is) at around ~40/100 volume. These are pretty dang efficient IEMs to run at 40 with an unbalanced connection.

Lows (14/20):

I’m starting off with the Mid-bass/Sub-bass test I’m using David Guetta’s “I’m Good (Blue).” The bass drums are pretty good with solid impact and relatively quick decay – no distortion from the DD here, which some very expensive IEMs can’t do. The sub-bass is good and clearly apparent, but can’t compete with the TOTL IEMs bass like the Xe6/Rn6, or Trifecta for pure soul-rattling sound. Still, in this price range, it competes directly with the A5000 with some very good overall bass quality and quantity – 8/10 points here.

Up next is Demon Hunter’s “I Am A Stone,” which I use to test whether the bass is too strong and overwhelms the mids as that is just as important as how strong/good the bass is. Oddly, based on the chart I was expecting more bass quantity overall, but the P8 is pretty muted on the bass here. This song has the tendency to have overwhelming bass in the background that can drown out the mids here. The good news is that this doesn’t occur at all. The bad news is that the bass is almost undiscernible at all, only coming in strongly a few times during the song. Unfortunately, that throws off the balance of this song quite a bit, earning this section a 6/10 points (5 points for perfectly not drowning out the mids, but only 1 for bass presence).

Mids (15/20):

Weaving The Fate’s “The Fall” is my test song for clean/dirty guitars and vocals with background instruments to see how clearly the vocals can be heard. The intro guitars are very clean, the cymbals can be clearly heard, and the distorted guitars actually sound really good. The vocals come in cleanly with excellent detail and a forward presence that doesn’t drown out the drums or cymbals. The guitars are not muddy at all, even when distorted. There’s no sibilance – the overall here is a very good presentation. My biggest complaint is that the song sounds pretty flat with a 2D soundstage and a “thinness” that I don’t love – it’s a trend I see on quite a few songs that prevents the P8 from ever competing directly with the SR8. Still, for the price, it’s good and earns it 5/6 points.

Staind’s “Something to Remind You” has clean electric guitars and wonderful vocals – this song tests vocal quality and background noise. The thinness continues with the guitars, but the vocals sound great here. Excellent vocal body and a forward presence that takes up a lot of the soundstage. The bass is pretty muted and there isn’t the level of detail I expect to hear from this song when Aaron Lewis runs his fingers up and down the frets, but it’s still a good presentation at this price level. The bass is decent quality though, and certainly doesn’t overpower the mids, letting them shine through. Overall, this song earns 5/7 points for its thinness and lack of detail.

To test classical instruments in the mids, I’m using The Piano Guys' “Code Name Vivaldi.” The intro cellos do a good job competing without one overpowering the other. Some of the “soul” I look for in this song is missing though. It doesn’t feel like the instruments are enveloping you, it feels more like you are just hearing sound shoved at you from one direction. This song will not give you chills on the P8 like it can on some higher-end IEMs. That’s a shame because the instruments all come in clearly with no distortion or imbalance, but they won’t wow you particularly either. 5/7 points here as well for a good overall performance that falls a bit flat.

Highs (17/20):

To test sibilance on headphones I use Panic! At The Disco’s “High Hopes.” There’s a small amount of sibilance here, but compared to most IEMs, it’s basically non-existent. This is one of the least sibilant sets of IEMs I’ve heard in a VERY long time. Love it – this song is rarely tolerable on high-end IEMs thanks to their ability to portray treble at such a high level, which usually comes with a side-effect of sibilance. 5/6 points here!

Dream Theater’s “The Alien,” is the highs test song I use to see if the cymbals/high-hats/snare drum can be clearly heard and distinguished from the rest of the music (also good for instrument separation.) It’s surprising to find an IEM that doesn’t have a lot of sibilance. It’s even more surprising when it somehow manages to perform well on this song. It’s not one of the best treble presentations I’ve ever heard, but it’s definitely above average. The cymbals and snares can be clearly heard over the distorted guitars and drums. The instrument separation is very good here and the cowbell can even be heard in the background - no mean feat for the P8. There are some details lacking and it’s a tad muddy, but it’s excellent for this price range and even above – 6/7 points.

Michelle McLaughlin’s “Across The Burren” is another of my favorite highs/sharpness test songs as it can easily sound painful on some headphones. I’ll be very surprised if there’s any sharpness here considering the other two songs' performance…performer…whatever. Yes, there’s a tiny bit of sharpness, yes I’m surprised, and yes it only happens on a couple of notes throughout the entire song. It’s an overall good presentation and better than many more-expensive IEMs. Again, a 6/7 making this one of the best overall treble scores I’ve ever given. YMMV.

Soundstage/Instrument Separation/Imaging (6/10):

I use MGMT’s “Time to Pretend” to test soundstage, instrument separation, and imaging. The imaging is surprisingly good (2/3) and the instrument separation is very good (3/3). The soundstage isn’t the best and is very forward-leaning and a little narrow (1/3)– I’m really not expecting much from an IEM in this price range since the best IEMs I’ve heard in this category were $3k+. A 6/10 here is still quite respectable and matches some much more expensive IEMs.

Comparisons:

The P8 is a very good IEM, but I’ll personally still take the A5000 over the P8 for less money. The A5000 just has so much breadth for almost $100 less. The A5000 has better bass as well and both have good mids, though the P8’s treble is definitely better. The OL can’t quite compete with either of these, and it’s not very good with the stock 3.5mm cable, though even a $20 4.4mm cable upgrades it quite a bit. The same could be true of the P8, but the stock 3.5mm cable does well enough that it’s a close second to the A5000. The fact remains that I’d still take the A5000 for quite a bit less money and the famous Final E-type ear tips and excellent size, weight, appearance, and comfort over the P8. Both are very good for under $500 however. The SR8 trumps all 3 but costs twice as much – performing at TOTL IEM level in casual listening. Only a review of that one will reveal its strengths and weaknesses – it’s coming soon.



Conclusion:

The P8 is a very good IEM and competes with a TON of more expensive IEMs. It can’t quite compete with the SR8 or the A5000 on the stock 3.5mm cable, but a 4.4mm upgrade might fix that. The treble is some of the best I’ve ever heard though and the mids are very good, but the bass needs some work in the quantity department. Still, if you like the looks, you can do MUCH worse for sound on a mids/highs focused IEM.

Introduction:​

AFUL is a company that has been making waves in China for a while, only recently entering the global market with the Performer5 last year. While I haven't personally heard it, the P5 made a big splash on release (for better or for worse) and since then has asserted itself as an excellent choice at the $200 price point. With the Performer8, AFUL seeks to improve upon their previous success, but how does it stack up?


Disclaimer: Many thanks to AFUL for making this review possible! While I was offered a discounted unit, I was not incentivized for a positive review. These thoughts are purely my own.

---

Where to Buy:​

Hifigo
Amazon

---

WHO THIS IS FOR:​

• Those looking for a rich, lush, natural-sounding IEM with good detail retrieval
• Mids lovers
• Those looking for pleasant treble with good extension and sparkle without sibilance
• Those looking for a smooth and enjoyable listen

---

WHO THIS ISN'T FOR:​

• Those who prefer very thin and clinical-sounding IEMs
• Those looking for something very incisive and crisp

---

Build, Fit, Accessories:​

What's in the box: The AFUL Performer8 comes with a decent selection of ear tips, faux leather carrying case, and a cable. It's neither lacking nor excessive. And depending on where the final price lands, it is par for the course. The included cable has a mix of copper and silver plated strands and is also solid - well-behaved and of decent quality.


Build and fit: Build quality is excellent. The P8 comes in a 3D-printed resin shell standard for multiple driver IEMs. The IEMs themselves are very light and are small/medium in size. They are very ergonomic and are among the best-fitting IEMs I have tried. I can't imagine many people having fit issues and my wife, who has tiny ears, had no problems wearing these.

---

Overall Sound:​

The overall sound signature is very balanced, with excellent natural tonality. The sound has a satisfying lushness/richness with good extension on both ends. The bass is punchy and rumbly, the mids have a nice body and good clarity, and the treble is well extended, smooth, and pleasant, with a good amount of sparkle. The Performer8 is a very well-rounded IEM that does almost everything well!

---

Bass:​

The bass extends deep. The shelf is slightly sub-bass-focused, but midbass is still quite satisfying! The bass quality is good, with a decent amount of texture. It's a relatively tight bass with a lot of tactility - it punches, slams, and rumbles on demand without sounding overwhelming. It's not particularly incisive, but it isn't boomy or sloppy sounding. It's simply well done.

---

Mids:​

Mids are rich and lush. Both male and female vocals have a good amount of body and presence. There is a decent amount of warmth, but it's not bloated or muddy. It does retain quite a bit of clarity, and for lack of better words, it sounds nicely balanced.

---

Treble:​

The treble on the Performer8 is well-extended with a good amount of air and sparkle. It's pleasant and smooth, perhaps with a slight brightness, but no sibilance to my ears. Violins, for example, sound sweet but not piercing.

---

Technicalities:​

Details and Resolution:


Details and resolution on the Performer8 are excellent - competitive with IEMs currently priced around $500-600. Regarding detail retrieval, it outperforms the ThieAudio Oracle and is competitive with the Dunu SA6s and Xenns Mangird Top. Depending on where the final price lands for the Performer8, it could be one of the more, if not most, resolving IEMs in the price range. When listening to violin quartets, for example, you can easily pick up the quartet members placing their fingers on the fingerboard, taking breaths to cue phrases, etc.


Soundstage, Imaging, and Separation:


The stage is average to slightly above average for an IEM. It is not particularly wide, but there is some depth. Imaging is good with a decent amount of layering, but separation is average, which keeps it from being pinpoint accurate.


Dynamics, transients, and decay:


Given that this is a smoother IEM, it might not be surprising that transients aren't incredibly incisive - the initial attack on notes is clear and defined but could be crisper. Decay on notes is neither too fast nor too slow. The dynamics are decent but not standout.


Timbre:


Timbre is good. Overall, the Performer8 is a very natural-sounding IEM, and most instruments sound correct to my ear. Nothing sounds glaringly wrong to me.

---

Conclusion:​

The AFUL Performer8 came out of left field and really surprised me. When I was offered the chance to review the AFUL Performer8, I was curious but did not know what to expect. I certainly did not expect to be as impressed as I was!


For 369.99, it is absolutely a new benchmark - you'll be hard-pressed to find anything better.

In any case, the AFUL Performer8 is an excellent IEM, and it gets my recommendation for anyone looking for a very well-tuned IEM that is easy to pick up and listen to. And while it isn't a technical monster by any means, the well-balanced, lush tuning of the P8 handled every song I threw at it in stride with great detail retrieval to boot!

It’s a modern world, where we need to find value and technology in which we buy. I personally don’t want to buy a rebranded iem but something special. We live in a world of a race to the bottom really exists meaning that iems are getting better and cheaper as manufacturing becomes more efficient.

Not long ago I found a particular iem on a particular reviewer’s list. It was ranked fairly well for the price, and I seem to trust this reviewer. I took a gamble, and it paid off as it instantly became a benchmark and favorite for me.

This iem was the Aful 5, and I still find it an incredibly tuned iem with great retrieval, a major benchmark for the price, but not only that they were releasing the Aful 8 soon. I really enjoyed the Aful 5 and reached out to Aful about the 8 itself to learn more. I now have the Aful 8 in my hands, and I have paid for my copy of the Aful 8 and my opinions are my own.

You can buy this on Hifigo as of right now, it is also on Amazon. This link is only listed here for convenience only. (I recommend waiting until the official price is released, I expect it to be around 340 to 450, this review will be updated when the price is updated)

There are recently been some rumors about more iems from Aful, and I can confirm one of them, a Single Balanced armature driver IEMs based on S&E-math technology is also in the pipeline. I would expect more from Aful in the future but that is the only thing that I can currently confirm. Award-winning technology just gets me out of bed. Paying some guy with a magic ear who says an iem good, just feels like I’m paying for a guy to repaint my house when my house is fine. It isn’t enough for me for a simple color retuning, I need to see value, technology, and quality. Hifi is a world of charging a silly amount, to have actual technology is insane and refreshing. The company has a few patients and a strong vision of what they want to do. Aful wants to achieve high-performing iems at a reasonable price. I encourage you to read up on the company.

Aful was founded in 2018 and this is their second international release and their fifth overall. There are graphs and videos floating around on Band 5 and Band 8, but they are tuned differently. Aful is a unique company name. I love their iems, and think this is a company to put on your radar.

Tech

I’m going to try to summarize the information on the patents in a short less technical manner and what they mean to me. They have three different patients. The first is High-Precision 3D Printed Acoustic Tube Structure. Which seems to help harmonize and eliminate peaks caused by resonance. I find that the iem takes EQ really well, and everything sounds alive from this iem in particular. From my personal experience, many iems and headphones won’t take eq well for various reasons.


The second big tech is RLC Network Frequency Division Correction Technology. It gives their Balanced armature a smooth treble frequency that rivals EST units. This is interesting to me because I really feel this iem has an EST in that it delivers an airy and detailed sound.


The third Technology is High-Damping Air-Pressure Balance System. It balances the air pressure in the canal. It is supposed to reduce discomfort and fatigue. It is supposed to enhance the low-frequency texture, depth, and elasticity as well. I do find the Aful to be easy on the ears and I don’t want them out of my ears. They also provide a fantastic sonic seal. This iem is one that I can wear for hours, not just for intensive listening sessions.


While I’m no technical expert, I do appreciate the patients that they have and find this iem unique and special.

Shell

The shell is even more beautiful in person than it is in the picture. I am really enjoying the look of it. I find the shell to be small but ergonomic. Its nozzle is easy to fit in my ears and I can wear it for long sessions without issue. The angle or size doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t add additional pressure to my ears. I like the nonrecessed nature of the connectors as it is easy to swap with other cables as needed, and it is really light to use.


(This has the CP 145 Spinfits, not the stock tips.)


Case
At first, I thought that this was the exact same case as the Aful 5, but it’s not, It’s MUCH better. There is a company that sells iem round cases for 10 dollars on Amazon. This case is not that it is fully pleather feeling with a great texture. I find great value in this case and would value it at nearly 25 to 30 dollars. It looks classy and feels premium.

(On the far left is the Meteor case, followed by the Aful Performer 8 case in the middle, and lastly the Dunu SA6 MK2 case.)

Cable
This cable is a different color and quality than the cable on the Aful Performer 5. It feels nice and has a nice shine to it with a subtle two-color finish. It has a good thematic feel of Autumn and goes with the faceplate very well. It has red and blue easy-to-read connectors which make maintenance easy. My favorite cable is the Symposium Meteor cable. But the added color gives this the win here, despite the texture of the Meteor cable being a little better, and having a nice shine to it. The Aful cable has a neck slider and doesn’t seem to get unruly. I find the cable of the Peformer 5 like 20% stiffer, and not nearly as attractive or premium.

(This is the case that I keep my Meteor in, as I'm just not a fan of the stock case it comes with. Notice the color of the cable goes well with the faceplates.)

Tip Selection
We have red and blue style ear tips that fit me great. I feel it’s a clever and thoughtful gesture. I have requested that Aful sell their tips separately, I would definitely buy them. This is a nice gesture for me. I personally find myself using Spinfit 145, as my go-to. But as far as presentation goes, this tip selection is strong, fun, and enjoyable. It’s a better selection overall than the Aful 5, and it’s overall a nice presentation that is thoughtful.



Comparison:

This Compares to Blessing 3, Blessing 2 Dusk, and surpasses the P5 handily. It’s a strong little iem with a taste of luxury that most can afford. The Blessing 3 is a fantastic iem, and I think that the Aful 8 fits better, and has a slight edge sonically. I think it competes with the more expensive Dunu SA6 MK2 and the Meteor which are 600 dollar iems. While I think other iems I have listened to rival it in technicalities and tuning, I do think this is my favorite iem over all that I've heard and is a competitive mid-fi iem to keep on your radar.


Quick-Fire Comparisons

In this section, I'll quickly compare the Aful 8 vs other iems.

Aful Performer 8 VS. Aful Performer 5 (220)
Overall Tuning: Aful 8
Details: Aful 8

Aful Performer 8 VS. Blessing 2 Dusk (330)
Overall Tuning: Blessing 2 Dusk
Details: Aful 8

Aful Performer 8 VS. TheiAudio Oracle MK 2 (589)
Overall Tuning: Aful 8
Details: Aful 8

Aful Performer 8 VS. Dunu SA6 MK2 (579)
Overall Tuning: Tied
Details: Dunu SA6 has a slight edge



Graph: Gizaudio has published a graph of this iem. It graphs very similarly to the Blessing 3 in the base, while the Aful 5 graphs are similar to Blessings 2 Dusk. While I was originally wary of this graph as it isn't exactly like my preferred tuning, I find this sounds really good. I would recommend that you try it before you judge it too harshly.







Bass

The base of the Aful 8 is Deep-Hitting and technical. The graph makes it look lean, but it is far from that. There is a growl and a rumble on the base notes. It hits hard and sounds fast. Cymbal hits are strong and detailed. The midrange is clean and clear without bleed from the base. It is an unusual experience like an Electrostatic driver in which you feel the base as the iem seems to rumble.
There is a full sound that adds to the male vocals and everything sounds clear and vivid. It has a hard-hitting feeling that is tight with a nice timber Vocals sound supported and rich with great presence. There is no wisp or lack of clarity in the female vocals.

Midrange

The midrange is very detailed and natural sounding to me. There is an expansive soundstage to me that is nice and present. Vocals have a natural timbre to them that ties me in. It really instantly drew me in. Podcasts and voices all sound natural to me. I feel like I’m there with the Performer 8.

Treble

The treble is natural, airy, and shimmers in this set. I feel it competes with other more end-game sets and sounds detailed, and has sparkle at the right places. It has good musicality in the 10-15k range which is really nice and gets me to quickly enjoy the music. It maintains a smooth and extended presentation that ensures instruments sound like I’m there and it's magical.

Music

I’ve tested the Aful performer and it sounds great on different styles with instruments sounding good especially. I don’t think this iem should be characterized by only doing one type of music or another.

Top 10 Tidal list here:
I listen to a wide variety of music. I pick the songs because of various reasons. But I picture myself locked away like Andy Dufresne from Shawshank blasting music and shut off from the world. It’s a blissful image.
The Marriage of Figaro -The opera song from Shawshank Redemption, terrible recording but fun and gets me in the mood to listen to music.
O mio Babino caro -This is a modern less operatic version but a song with great female vocals.
Video Rigoletto - “La donna e mobile” Sung by one of the three Tenors, great song for high-performing male vocals. Pavarotti is the greatest classic singer maybe ever. Fight me!
Iron man - The sound at the beginning is hard to make sound great, great drums, and cymbals, and if done right it feels like an old-school band.
I Will Survive (1981 recording, I like her voice, and the old vocals, the drums, and various natural instruments really make this a favorite for me.
There is a light That never goes out - Smiths ( A classic, I just love it. It’s mellow, and I can tell a lot of the tuning if this song is done right.)
Jump (I like how the sound effects are in this!)
Star Child Someone recommended this song to me, and I like how funky it sounds and has nice vocals and a mix of music and things going on.
Dicke Titten Ramstein The beginning is amazing and the bass hits hard. Great song. I love rock and metal. The German language fascinates me
Master of Puppets: Very fast song. Helps me determine if the driver can keep up.

I am going to share a larger list that I have of songs that I like in this review. 61+ songs Here


Value:
Value is subjective. But I feel this iem competes with my other iems well and is something to consider for those who want their first taste of hifi. It’s easily on par with the quality Symphonium Meteor, Blessing 2 Dusk, and Dunu Sa6 MK2. The packaging is very nice and unique with what is the most beautiful shell that I’ve ever seen in an iem. I find this a good value at the expected price of around 400 in that it is on par or better than most in that range, and competitive vs other items at the 600 dollar pricepoint. (This is hard to place without knowing the exact price, and this review will be updated later.)


Recommended EQ: I find the sound profile strong, but I still recommend a +4 DB boost at 32 HZ, 64HZ, 125 HZ, and +2 at 250 HZ. This iem takes eq well.


Gifting/who is it for:
I think this is a quality product, and it is hard to justify buying it for others, but it’s a strong product that feels like a more expensive iem, and looks like one too. It’s an incredible set to gift, because of the great packaging and presentation. I think it’s a good all-day wearing iem as well. I think it is a good recommendation for many who are looking for a strong set with good staging. It is expensive, but as its comfort is so high I could see many people who don’t normally like iems enjoy this set, as Audiofiles who want to see what a mid-fi iem can actually do.

Should you Buy it:

It depends on what you are looking for and your budget. It is a great daily driver that I love to play loud. It hasn't left my ears in three days for longer than a few minutes to do comparisons. I fully enjoy them. If you can afford it, buy it, take the blind, and you won't be disappointed. If you can't, try it when you can at the next Cam Jam, or local store. Or just wait for the inevitable budget Aful product to come out.

Pairing:

I used a Quidelix 5k and a Topping e70 dac through an SMSL SH-8s AMP. I also tested this with my new Schitt Piety (Solid state amp with tube qualities) which I found to be a delightful pairing. I also used it from my computer without a DAC, and at work with an Apple dongle. This iem is very sensitive and not a problem to drive by anything that I tested it with.

Summary

Thanks for reading. I’m still fairly new to writing reviews, and any constructive feedback is welcome. Also if you have questions or things that you think I should add in further reviews please let me know.
I think this iem is going to start a fire, I think it’s going to be relevant in years to come as a technical monster. We live in a world where technology has an impact, but it’s not always apparent. It’s going to take time for this fire to get going, but when it does, expect more to jump on the bandwagon. This is a fantastic iem with great relevance to the market. It’s not just a pretty iem, it’s the kind of iem you’ll want to shout to the world about. The Aful 5 was the starter, now we are onto the main course, and it’s delicious. Now I go back to listening.

Ok, for the TL;DR first of this iem, just buy it. It’s S class for Technicals and S for tuning. It’s fantastic. Just don’t spend 999 for it, wait until it drops to around 450 or less in a few days.