Tipsy Blue Aurora
- Added by machinegod
- Create date
Introduction
Blue Aurora is the entry level IEM from Tipsy, a Chinese company created in 2016. Blue Aurora is Tipsy's least expensive IEM. At a first glance, Blue Aurora looks like a beautiful IEM with charismatic looks, feel and immaculate design. The faceplate is of sparkling bluish-black color with resin coating that gives it a silky appearance. It has the brand name Tipsy written over it in silver. The curvature and shape are smooth and provide a comfortable fit. It has a 2-pin connector with 4-Core SPC stock cable that's standard for an IEM of this range now a days. It also comes with a nice old-school faux leather pouch.
Disclaimer:
I have received Tipsy Blue Aurora as part of review circle sent from the brand itself in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range.
Sources:
For this review the unit has been paired to Cayin N5ii and LG V30+
Highs:
The treble response is purely relaxing in Tipsy blue aurora. The resolution of highs is good as per price. The high although lack sparkle and those who do not prefer listening to ultra-high frequencies this is the best pair of earpieces. It’s more of a non-fatiguing earpiece. The highs never get sibilant irrespective of which kind of music is played on it.
Mids:
Mids are the range where one can feel the true potential of Tipsy Blue Aurora. It has beautiful vocals. Warm and Smooth midrange gives an enjoyable listening experience. Bit more clarity would help but overall, in mid-range this gives a very stress-free listening. I enjoyed listening to Binaural sessions of Amber Rubarth on this during one fine night.
Lows:
Tipsy Blue Aurora as a mellow bass which is more detail oriented than thumpy grooving. It has a punchy Mid-bass but a rolled off sub-base. It forms a nice foundation for Mids and Highs without invading in mid-range.
Detailing/Imaging/Soundstage:
This has good detailing for an IEM this price. Soundstage and imaging are decent. Soundstage is more in depth than in height and width. All the aspects are so much in coherence that it feels a liquidly smooth IEM to listen to after a hectic day of work.
Final Verdict:
Tipsy Blue Aurora is definitely an IEM for a beginner audiophile who wants to enjoy the magic of a single BA driver. But even if one is not a beginner audiophile and after a busy day just wants to relax then as per me this is the perfect IEM; all you need is to plug in this and have a nice Binaural recordings and just enjoy the sweet mid-range with decent imaging and depth. So, in a nutshell If you are looking for sound signature that sooth your mind instead of exciting it, this would be the way to go.
Blue Aurora is the entry level IEM from Tipsy, a Chinese company created in 2016. Blue Aurora is Tipsy's least expensive IEM. At a first glance, Blue Aurora looks like a beautiful IEM with charismatic looks, feel and immaculate design. The faceplate is of sparkling bluish-black color with resin coating that gives it a silky appearance. It has the brand name Tipsy written over it in silver. The curvature and shape are smooth and provide a comfortable fit. It has a 2-pin connector with 4-Core SPC stock cable that's standard for an IEM of this range now a days. It also comes with a nice old-school faux leather pouch.
Disclaimer:
I have received Tipsy Blue Aurora as part of review circle sent from the brand itself in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range.
Sources:
For this review the unit has been paired to Cayin N5ii and LG V30+
Highs:
The treble response is purely relaxing in Tipsy blue aurora. The resolution of highs is good as per price. The high although lack sparkle and those who do not prefer listening to ultra-high frequencies this is the best pair of earpieces. It’s more of a non-fatiguing earpiece. The highs never get sibilant irrespective of which kind of music is played on it.
Mids:
Mids are the range where one can feel the true potential of Tipsy Blue Aurora. It has beautiful vocals. Warm and Smooth midrange gives an enjoyable listening experience. Bit more clarity would help but overall, in mid-range this gives a very stress-free listening. I enjoyed listening to Binaural sessions of Amber Rubarth on this during one fine night.
Lows:
Tipsy Blue Aurora as a mellow bass which is more detail oriented than thumpy grooving. It has a punchy Mid-bass but a rolled off sub-base. It forms a nice foundation for Mids and Highs without invading in mid-range.
Detailing/Imaging/Soundstage:
This has good detailing for an IEM this price. Soundstage and imaging are decent. Soundstage is more in depth than in height and width. All the aspects are so much in coherence that it feels a liquidly smooth IEM to listen to after a hectic day of work.
Final Verdict:
Tipsy Blue Aurora is definitely an IEM for a beginner audiophile who wants to enjoy the magic of a single BA driver. But even if one is not a beginner audiophile and after a busy day just wants to relax then as per me this is the perfect IEM; all you need is to plug in this and have a nice Binaural recordings and just enjoy the sweet mid-range with decent imaging and depth. So, in a nutshell If you are looking for sound signature that sooth your mind instead of exciting it, this would be the way to go.
Disclaimer:
The unit has been sent to me by Tipsy as a part of a review circle. I am not working or affiliated to Tipsy and I am not being paid or influenced otherwise to say anything positive or negative about this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Specifications:
Sound:
Blue Aurora has an even more inoffensive sound than its brother, Dunmer. But that not necessarily mean that it is a better sound signature. To my ear, the Blue Arora has a warm and smooth signature with rolled off subbass and calm highs. Not very exciting, it did not scratch my itch.
Bass:
It's mostly midbass punch. Subbass is very rolled off hence the physical presence - rumble and thump are absent. But the midbass has good body and punch, and does not feel hollow. fast decay, hence does not invade into the midrange. Acceptable amount of details represented - not very good, but not mushy also.
In Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST - Prelude To War the drums punch with a good body, then disappears quickly, decluttering the overall sound.
In Steven Wilson - pariah (To The Bone) and Muse - Showbiz the underlying bassline can be noticed, but lacks body and present at the same level or sometimes behind the other elements of the track.
Mids:
This is where it really shines. It has got a forward, warm and smooth midrange that guarantees a pleasing experience. Lower midrange is enhanced because of this, and male vocals sounds very good. However, the warmth extends to upper midrange also, and the female vocals take a hit because of that. The added warmth holds back the female vocals from showing their brilliance. Details are ok at best, should not expect a lot at this price range, though. Instrument crispness is not much present, slightly on the duller side,TBH.
The lack of crispness is quite evident in the Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST - Prelude To War track, where the snare drums, although in forefront, sound a bit washed out, even more than Dunmer.
As in case of Dunmer, you will not have to worry about any kind of sibilance or sharpness.
Treble:
Not up to the mark. The life is not there in the highs. They are present, but just that. Not crisp, and not much extended. On all the tracks I have tested them, I failed to get impressed by the highs. On the tracks that got very piercing high notes, Blue Arora manages to render them in a much more comfortable manner, but the feeling of restraint is always there.
Soundstage:
Stage has good depth, but not much height and width - the music is mostly in your head only. Separation is ok, nothing spectacular.
Comparison:
Vs. Macaw GT600S: GT600S has a slightly colder presentation, with a similarly forward mids, more energetic highs, crispier notes, and more voluminous bass. GT600S puts out more details in Mids and Highs due to leaner and edgier notes. GT600S has a wider and taller soundstage, while the depth on Blue Aurora is slightly more, but that is mostly due to the distant highs.
Conclusion:
Tipsy Blue Aurora is a nice iem for relaxed listening, and for listening to high energy tracks in a comfortable way. It is not meant for active listening where you will be looking for the details, nope. When you don't need a ton bass, and just wants to block out the outside world in a passive manner with some background score,it may suit your purpose.
The unit has been sent to me by Tipsy as a part of a review circle. I am not working or affiliated to Tipsy and I am not being paid or influenced otherwise to say anything positive or negative about this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Specifications:
- Sensitivity: 105dB@1kHz.
- Impedance: 16 ohm @1kHz.
- Driver: 1 balanced armature.
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20000Hz.
- Plug Type: 3.5mm Gold Plated Jack.
- Interface: 0.78mm 2pin.
- Cable Length: 1.2m
- Price: $75
Sound:
Blue Aurora has an even more inoffensive sound than its brother, Dunmer. But that not necessarily mean that it is a better sound signature. To my ear, the Blue Arora has a warm and smooth signature with rolled off subbass and calm highs. Not very exciting, it did not scratch my itch.
Bass:
It's mostly midbass punch. Subbass is very rolled off hence the physical presence - rumble and thump are absent. But the midbass has good body and punch, and does not feel hollow. fast decay, hence does not invade into the midrange. Acceptable amount of details represented - not very good, but not mushy also.
In Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST - Prelude To War the drums punch with a good body, then disappears quickly, decluttering the overall sound.
In Steven Wilson - pariah (To The Bone) and Muse - Showbiz the underlying bassline can be noticed, but lacks body and present at the same level or sometimes behind the other elements of the track.
Mids:
This is where it really shines. It has got a forward, warm and smooth midrange that guarantees a pleasing experience. Lower midrange is enhanced because of this, and male vocals sounds very good. However, the warmth extends to upper midrange also, and the female vocals take a hit because of that. The added warmth holds back the female vocals from showing their brilliance. Details are ok at best, should not expect a lot at this price range, though. Instrument crispness is not much present, slightly on the duller side,TBH.
The lack of crispness is quite evident in the Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST - Prelude To War track, where the snare drums, although in forefront, sound a bit washed out, even more than Dunmer.
As in case of Dunmer, you will not have to worry about any kind of sibilance or sharpness.
Treble:
Not up to the mark. The life is not there in the highs. They are present, but just that. Not crisp, and not much extended. On all the tracks I have tested them, I failed to get impressed by the highs. On the tracks that got very piercing high notes, Blue Arora manages to render them in a much more comfortable manner, but the feeling of restraint is always there.
Soundstage:
Stage has good depth, but not much height and width - the music is mostly in your head only. Separation is ok, nothing spectacular.
Comparison:
Vs. Macaw GT600S: GT600S has a slightly colder presentation, with a similarly forward mids, more energetic highs, crispier notes, and more voluminous bass. GT600S puts out more details in Mids and Highs due to leaner and edgier notes. GT600S has a wider and taller soundstage, while the depth on Blue Aurora is slightly more, but that is mostly due to the distant highs.
Conclusion:
Tipsy Blue Aurora is a nice iem for relaxed listening, and for listening to high energy tracks in a comfortable way. It is not meant for active listening where you will be looking for the details, nope. When you don't need a ton bass, and just wants to block out the outside world in a passive manner with some background score,it may suit your purpose.
L
LikeHolborn
My Sound should be no extra subbass and bass lump quality 0:34 but that's more of a in general. more of this sound 1:47 to 1:57 than the atmosphere sound, in general 
🏎 starts at 36:22, you really should feel like you're lifting/floating at 36:39 like an airplane going down instead of positive g's without any extra clarity/brightness, that's all..
🏎 starts at 36:22, you really should feel like you're lifting/floating at 36:39 like an airplane going down instead of positive g's without any extra clarity/brightness, that's all..
Introduction :
Tipsy is definitely not a new player in the audiophiliac market and their Dunmer Pro was very well received by many reviewers. Tipsy first started out in 2016 out of China and they have seemingly great build quality and sound quality for a new brand. Their TWS TM1 proved that good sounding TWS do not need to be very expensive and we have Blue Aurora from Tipsy which is focused towards a more budget oriented segment.
Disclaimer :
The review was tested at 75$ and all the judgement was made keeping the exact same price in mind. We're not responsible for any price change that might alter this review.
This item was graciously provided by Tipsy for review in exchange for a honest and unbiased review. The review was written by the team in our own accord and no thoughts or judgements were altered in any way.
Purchasable Link :
Linsoul (Global Store)
Specification :
Unboxing and Accessories :
Unboxing is pretty straightforward and the included accessories set is sufficient for the price that they come for. The box has Tipsy branding on it and under the box you’ll find Blue Aurora sitting nicely in foam. Box accessory set includes:
Cable :
Cable that comes with the box is a 3.5mm unbalanced cable. The cable is very thin and drapey, the connector does feel good and robust but overall it’s just a badly behaving cable. The connector has an aluminium cladding on which “Tipsy” is etched. There were a few microphonics with the provided cable.
Pouch :
Blue Aurora comes with a default leather like pouch which feels very good to hold in hands. The pouch closes securely and tightly with magnetic lips and it’s a very well made overall pouch.
IEM quality and fit :
Blue Aurora are built very well and they have really strong acrylic housing. The faceplate has a design that resembles Blue Aurora at first glance and they can please almost anyone. The top of the faceplate has tipsy branding with golden accents and it’s covered inside resin. The nozzle is pretty long which helps almost all tips to stay in place without falling off.
The IEM is fairly small and fits the ear of all sizes and shapes, they are very comfortable for long usage and neither did they create any sort of pressure.
Sound Isolation :
The Blue Aurora are built from acrylic resin and do an amazing job decent outside noise. Since they are pretty small they don’t block out noise like we have seen on other pairs of IEMs. Volume compensation can provide good sound isolation other than that there's not much to say here.
The Driveability and sources used :
Tipsy Blue Aurora are fairly easy to drive, with only 16 Ohms of impedance and sensitivity of 105dB they are easily driven off by any source. While using phone as source, they were generally played at a higher volume even though the specs suggest something else, a good Dongle DAC would help Blue Aurora here.
Sources used are :
Sound (3/5) :
Bass (3/5) :
The bass is not the strong point here depicted by the score, the bass is practically the aspect which gives energy to the music, not only that it provides the body to the music and the instruments that are played in the music so that they don't sound incomplete hence a very big factor. Tipsy falls short in this department as the bass roll off is very steep and very early due to which the IEM sounds incomplete and the energy is missing. Low end is not there and is completely lacking, mid bass on the other hand is very good and does the job pretty good. Talking about the texture the bass feels very undefined and texture is missing due to which it bleeds into mids, due to this sound is very notchy.
Mids (4/5) :
The mid region is where these shine and saves the day for Tipsy, the vocals sound very natural and smooth in representation, the lower mids seem to be boosted due to which the male vocals sound very life like and hefty which is non fatiguing and one can listen to any amount of hours, but this not tuned very well in higher mid which powers the female vocals due to which the female vocals sounds very heavy and not natural. As the bass is not tuned well the bass bleeds into mids and instruments sound not real also the vocals do not play in front heard in some songs.
Treble (3/5) :
Another hiccup felt in the performance is in high note reflection, lower treble is not present as per expectation as highlighted above, the female vocals needs definition which is lacking and sounds very mushy, the treble helps bring sparkle and excitement in the song, but lack of same makes this IEM sound very boring and unenthusiastic. Same as bass the treble roll off is very steep resulting in muddy and average resolution.
Soundstage (3/5) :
The score above depicts that the soundstage is very small and it literally plays in listeners head not over. The sense of grandeur is missing at great extent, there is no height and width perceivance. To sum up - below average.
Imaging (3/5) :
When talking about imaging one needs to understand that a well treble goes hand in hand with exciting imaging, not the case here as there is a very early roll off in treble with this IEM due to separation and imaging is below average.
Conclusion :
Blue Aurora is a very well made pair when it comes to aesthetics. When it comes to sound, it lacks extension on both the ends but vocals is what makes this pair unique, they are portrayed beautifully. The sound signature is very relaxed without any offensive tuning, a good pair when it's a busy day and you just want to relax with your music library. With somewhat average technicalities, decent accessories it can be a good buy under 75$ if you’re someone who loves lush midrange.
Rated :
All grades are given keeping price to performance ratio in mind, better grade doesn't mean it's the best.
Tipsy is definitely not a new player in the audiophiliac market and their Dunmer Pro was very well received by many reviewers. Tipsy first started out in 2016 out of China and they have seemingly great build quality and sound quality for a new brand. Their TWS TM1 proved that good sounding TWS do not need to be very expensive and we have Blue Aurora from Tipsy which is focused towards a more budget oriented segment.
Disclaimer :
The review was tested at 75$ and all the judgement was made keeping the exact same price in mind. We're not responsible for any price change that might alter this review.
This item was graciously provided by Tipsy for review in exchange for a honest and unbiased review. The review was written by the team in our own accord and no thoughts or judgements were altered in any way.
Purchasable Link :
Linsoul (Global Store)
Specification :
Unboxing and Accessories :
Unboxing is pretty straightforward and the included accessories set is sufficient for the price that they come for. The box has Tipsy branding on it and under the box you’ll find Blue Aurora sitting nicely in foam. Box accessory set includes:
- IEMS
- Cable
- Eartips
- Magnetic pouch
- Usermanual
Cable :
Cable that comes with the box is a 3.5mm unbalanced cable. The cable is very thin and drapey, the connector does feel good and robust but overall it’s just a badly behaving cable. The connector has an aluminium cladding on which “Tipsy” is etched. There were a few microphonics with the provided cable.
Pouch :
Blue Aurora comes with a default leather like pouch which feels very good to hold in hands. The pouch closes securely and tightly with magnetic lips and it’s a very well made overall pouch.
IEM quality and fit :
Blue Aurora are built very well and they have really strong acrylic housing. The faceplate has a design that resembles Blue Aurora at first glance and they can please almost anyone. The top of the faceplate has tipsy branding with golden accents and it’s covered inside resin. The nozzle is pretty long which helps almost all tips to stay in place without falling off.
The IEM is fairly small and fits the ear of all sizes and shapes, they are very comfortable for long usage and neither did they create any sort of pressure.
Sound Isolation :
The Blue Aurora are built from acrylic resin and do an amazing job decent outside noise. Since they are pretty small they don’t block out noise like we have seen on other pairs of IEMs. Volume compensation can provide good sound isolation other than that there's not much to say here.
The Driveability and sources used :
Tipsy Blue Aurora are fairly easy to drive, with only 16 Ohms of impedance and sensitivity of 105dB they are easily driven off by any source. While using phone as source, they were generally played at a higher volume even though the specs suggest something else, a good Dongle DAC would help Blue Aurora here.
Sources used are :
- DDHiFi 3.5mm to lightning
- Shanling M0
- FiiO BTR5
Sound (3/5) :
Bass (3/5) :
The bass is not the strong point here depicted by the score, the bass is practically the aspect which gives energy to the music, not only that it provides the body to the music and the instruments that are played in the music so that they don't sound incomplete hence a very big factor. Tipsy falls short in this department as the bass roll off is very steep and very early due to which the IEM sounds incomplete and the energy is missing. Low end is not there and is completely lacking, mid bass on the other hand is very good and does the job pretty good. Talking about the texture the bass feels very undefined and texture is missing due to which it bleeds into mids, due to this sound is very notchy.
Mids (4/5) :
The mid region is where these shine and saves the day for Tipsy, the vocals sound very natural and smooth in representation, the lower mids seem to be boosted due to which the male vocals sound very life like and hefty which is non fatiguing and one can listen to any amount of hours, but this not tuned very well in higher mid which powers the female vocals due to which the female vocals sounds very heavy and not natural. As the bass is not tuned well the bass bleeds into mids and instruments sound not real also the vocals do not play in front heard in some songs.
Treble (3/5) :
Another hiccup felt in the performance is in high note reflection, lower treble is not present as per expectation as highlighted above, the female vocals needs definition which is lacking and sounds very mushy, the treble helps bring sparkle and excitement in the song, but lack of same makes this IEM sound very boring and unenthusiastic. Same as bass the treble roll off is very steep resulting in muddy and average resolution.
Soundstage (3/5) :
The score above depicts that the soundstage is very small and it literally plays in listeners head not over. The sense of grandeur is missing at great extent, there is no height and width perceivance. To sum up - below average.
Imaging (3/5) :
When talking about imaging one needs to understand that a well treble goes hand in hand with exciting imaging, not the case here as there is a very early roll off in treble with this IEM due to separation and imaging is below average.
Conclusion :
Blue Aurora is a very well made pair when it comes to aesthetics. When it comes to sound, it lacks extension on both the ends but vocals is what makes this pair unique, they are portrayed beautifully. The sound signature is very relaxed without any offensive tuning, a good pair when it's a busy day and you just want to relax with your music library. With somewhat average technicalities, decent accessories it can be a good buy under 75$ if you’re someone who loves lush midrange.
Rated :
All grades are given keeping price to performance ratio in mind, better grade doesn't mean it's the best.
Disclaimer:
The unit has been sent to me by Tipsy as a part of a review circle. I am not working or affiliated to Tipsy and I am not being paid or influenced otherwise to say anything positive or negative about this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Note: Please note that my opinions and ratings are based on price, category, market competition and personal expectations and are subjective in nature.
Build Quality and comfort
Tipsy Blue Aurora (from here on will be termed as Aurora) has a very good and sturdy build, the shell is 3d crafted and has a premium finish. The blue colour faceplates are really eye-catching and truly justifies the name Aurora. It has fairly long nozzle and has a secured fit with stock tips. They are well balanced in size, shape and weight and didn’t bother me even on my long listening sessions that lasted for 4-5 hours straight. This is my second IEM from Tipsy and I’m a fan of their build quality, no matter the price, the Tipsy’s offerings are always a looker!
The cable is however disappointing. It feels sturdy but I feel it isn’t of good quality, why? You’ll find the answer as we move forward the review.
Score: 3/5
Sound Impressions:
Aurora houses a single BA setup, which is unique considering most brands either go with multi-ba, single dd or hybrid setups currently. To me, this setup seemed like a really bold step by Tipsy, even though single BA has its limitations with performing across all range of frequencies.
Aurora has a mid-focused presentation, and mids are the highlight of this IEM. Mids are appropriately forward, with good texture, the tonality is good and sounds great for most tracks that have focus on vocals. Lows are decent with punch but I felt has a roll off. Highs aren’t very detailed and is smooth with roll off at higher frequencies. Even then the overall tonality is quite pleasing and I wouldn’t complain because of the price it is available at.
The overall sound with the stock cable is a bit hazy and muffled. I changed the cable with my modded Obravo cable and the sound really opened up providing better extension and details. I felt the stock cable was a limiting factor for the Aurora. My impressions are however using the stock cable.
3/5
Soundstage, Imaging, Separation
Soundstage is decently wide and has decent depth, for tracks that aren’t too busy, the Aurora performs well, there’s decent separation. For instrument heavy tracks, there might be a slight congestion, but that is when you compare it to IEMs 3 or 4 times its price. I feel no IEM at this range excels in this department any more than the Aurora.
3/5
Conclusion:
The sound signature isn’t exactly my preference, it would be better with more extension at both ends and slightly more air in the top end. But for the price, it offers good design and build quality and smooth, relaxing sound signature. The tonality is decent. The Aurora overall offers good value for money at a price of 75USD.
Overall rating: 3/5
The unit has been sent to me by Tipsy as a part of a review circle. I am not working or affiliated to Tipsy and I am not being paid or influenced otherwise to say anything positive or negative about this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Note: Please note that my opinions and ratings are based on price, category, market competition and personal expectations and are subjective in nature.
Build Quality and comfort
Tipsy Blue Aurora (from here on will be termed as Aurora) has a very good and sturdy build, the shell is 3d crafted and has a premium finish. The blue colour faceplates are really eye-catching and truly justifies the name Aurora. It has fairly long nozzle and has a secured fit with stock tips. They are well balanced in size, shape and weight and didn’t bother me even on my long listening sessions that lasted for 4-5 hours straight. This is my second IEM from Tipsy and I’m a fan of their build quality, no matter the price, the Tipsy’s offerings are always a looker!
The cable is however disappointing. It feels sturdy but I feel it isn’t of good quality, why? You’ll find the answer as we move forward the review.
Score: 3/5
Sound Impressions:
Aurora houses a single BA setup, which is unique considering most brands either go with multi-ba, single dd or hybrid setups currently. To me, this setup seemed like a really bold step by Tipsy, even though single BA has its limitations with performing across all range of frequencies.
Aurora has a mid-focused presentation, and mids are the highlight of this IEM. Mids are appropriately forward, with good texture, the tonality is good and sounds great for most tracks that have focus on vocals. Lows are decent with punch but I felt has a roll off. Highs aren’t very detailed and is smooth with roll off at higher frequencies. Even then the overall tonality is quite pleasing and I wouldn’t complain because of the price it is available at.
The overall sound with the stock cable is a bit hazy and muffled. I changed the cable with my modded Obravo cable and the sound really opened up providing better extension and details. I felt the stock cable was a limiting factor for the Aurora. My impressions are however using the stock cable.
3/5
Soundstage, Imaging, Separation
Soundstage is decently wide and has decent depth, for tracks that aren’t too busy, the Aurora performs well, there’s decent separation. For instrument heavy tracks, there might be a slight congestion, but that is when you compare it to IEMs 3 or 4 times its price. I feel no IEM at this range excels in this department any more than the Aurora.
3/5
Conclusion:
The sound signature isn’t exactly my preference, it would be better with more extension at both ends and slightly more air in the top end. But for the price, it offers good design and build quality and smooth, relaxing sound signature. The tonality is decent. The Aurora overall offers good value for money at a price of 75USD.
Overall rating: 3/5
Disclaimer :
The Tipsy Blue Aurora is a sample that was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion in this review, as part of a review tour. I thank the team at Tipsy for giving me this opportunity.
Introduction :
Tipsy is amongst the bunch of new Chinese HiFi companies that have come into existence in the recent few years out of the blue (2016 in this case) and have tried to establish themselves as a reputable brand and garner a place / compete in the overflowing sea of budget iems (toughest spot to be in in 2020). The Tipsy team, with 25 years of music experience, has been dedicated to designing the professional on-stage in ear monitors and have now jumped ship to woo the cut throat lower of the audiophile market.
The Blue Aurora, is the newest model in the Tipsy family (and also the cheapest wired iem in the line-up) which integrates a Single BA (balanced armature) design and within a 3D printed cavity. Its bundled with a detachable 2-pin cable, terminated in a gold plated 3.5mm plug.
Marketing chops :
“Chosen and colored by the famed artist, Blue Aurora model is inspired by the aurora. Like it said, the color is blue and black just to show the feeling of fresh and simple, modern and exquisite. Handmade unparalleled texture and unique shape display an luxury appearance while having excellent build quality. After times of polishing, the aurora presents a natural translucent glitter, like the starry nights. It’s really eye-catching”
I do agree to all of that from a build quality and look standpoint as the Blue Aurora is gorgeous both in terms of looks, feel, build quality and craftsmanship. Its good there isn’t much too much 'massala' on the sound quality and affiliations too as that would have been, well, heinous. More on that later!
Test Rig :
Aune T1s Hybrid Tube Amp/DAC, Marantz SR5014, LG G8X ThinQ & the VE Odessey HD Dongle DAC, Tidal Playlists though the native Tidal app and via UAPP for the MQA tracks.
Sound Impressions Summary :
The Blue Aurora is part of the rare breed of iem’s that house a Single BA driver to do the duties of the entire spectrum of audio frequencies which is quite a daunting task honestly, also showcased by the fact that a lot of OEM’s have eventually shut the doors on this implementation because of the quirks and limitations with such an application.
Tipsy has tried to experiment with this driver implementation in the hopes to bring some change and standout in the budget segment offerings. Has this ambitious approach paid off? Well, NOPE.
To begin with, its hard to explain the sound signature / tuning that was done to stand out, rather you have the typical signature tuning that is reminiscent of most single BA implementations. Mid forward, and considerable roll off at either ends. Somehow, Tipsy has managed to add an additional layer of haziness and dullness into the mix that makes the presentation sound off and muffled which can make you feel that there might be phase issues (even though there are none).
Lets talk about the good bits here first (Yes there are a few!) :
The midrange texture is actually decent sounding and forward enough to be enjoyable and not so forward that things start to get heated up. There is substantial boost to the 2 to 3kHz region which although not bright, adds to the energy and enjoyment of the vocals overall. The tonality is fairly decent and as expected off from a single BA and overall presentation is mostly neutral. Midrange does have a bit of haze, but not substantially so, so as to not be corrected with a bit of equalization here and there. Resolution and overall textures, as well as timbre is on par for the course with nothing standing out as the Aurora, but nothing being the Aurora either.
The Achilles heel :
Sub-bass is all but existent in a whisper form. Mid bass is lean and lacks the juiciness or punch to bring life to a lot of genres even if not upbeat. Thanks to the mid forward presentation, the lack of punch down low doesn’t deprive the lower mids of the required warmth of heft required and that’s the saving grace for the Blue Aurora that the mids atleast have some life to them. The bass lacks quantity and yet it somehow manages to be slow and mostly flat. Infact, the overall presentation is very flat-ish for the lack of a better adjective. Depth is below average or perhaps about alright for the price-point and so is the staging and imaging properties.
Last but not the least, the bundled cables seriously need upgrade to get anywhere close to a decent performance from the Blue Aurora, as for the most part, the muffled and closed in sound is attributed to the cable pairing out of the box.
In the end.......(Love this LP track!) :
The Blue Aurora in the humblest sense seems to be (I truly believe so) a positive experiment by Tipsy to see what is possible and what can be avoided in future perhaps. If one needs to establish themselves as the go-to product especially in the budget sub-$100 segment, it’s best to bring you’re A-Game to the table keeping in mind the established competition from the Chinese stable. Considering that Tipsy does make the very pleasing and likable Dunmer and Dunmer Pro as well, its fair to give the benefit of doubt to Tipsy that we may see better iterations of the Blue Aurora, hopefully so in an all DD (Dynamic Driver) avatar. On that bombshell, the Blue Aurora would be a safe, humble and honest pass in 2021. There is better for much lesser or the same money!
Tipsy Blue Aurora:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora is a single Balanced Armature driver IEM, an entry-level offering from the brand. Yes, you heard it right the Tipsy Blue Aurora is the budget offering from the brand priced at just 75$. The beautifully designed earpieces are identical to that of Dunmer’s. The only difference being the Blue Aurora earpieces have as the name suggests Blueish faceplates while the Dunmer earpieces have black faceplates. You can order one for yourself from Linsoul.com.
Disclaimer:-
I received both the Tipsy Dunmer and the Tipsy Blue Aurora as a part of the review circle organized by the brand in my country. All impressions in this review are my own which I have noted keeping its price point in my mind. I am not affiliated with any brand to write positive or negative about the products. Read my review on my blog at www.gadgetgenerations.com.
Build Quality:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora has really beautiful super lightweight earpieces. Yeah, they are pretty identical to those with the Dunmer but if you ask me I loved the blueish Aurora-like faceplates that add a sparkle to the already beautiful looks of the pair. They come bundled with a 4-core cable with gunmetal colored connectors and a termination plug that is again identical to what we get with the Dunmer. Though the cable with Dunmer is actually an 8-core and has a chrome finish on the connectors and termination plug. Overall in terms of build quality, I found the pair to be a better-looking one as compared to the 120$ Dunmer.
Even with identical looks, the earpieces are actually a little bit smaller as compared to the Dunmer earpieces and provide a better fit. They seal the ear canal completely providing proper noise isolation while maintaining good comfort.
Powering the Tipsy Blue Aurora:-
The Blue Aurora is an easy to drive pair, it has a sensitivity rating of 105dB/mW at a 16-ohm load. It can be driven easily off your smartphones, but I always suggest using a portable Hi-res player for smooth decoding and quality sound output.
Sound Quality:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora has a mid-centric sound signature that is mainly focused on vocal response. The pair produce some brilliant vocals with rich detailing and clarity. Apart from the excellent mid-frequencies, the pair sounds quite dull in the lower end. The bass response is quite slow and not deep at all. I mean it might sound boring to some people who prefer some groovy thumps in their music. When it comes to the high frequencies, the treble portion shows good detailing. But again here the pair suffers an early roll-off in the upper treble that takes away some of the extensions from the pair. The pair doesn’t sound veiled or dark at all, it has a smooth non-fatiguing signature with superb lush vocals.
Lower End:-
I am not particularly a bass head but I love some punch, some quick precise thumps in my music. It adds life to my music(personal preference of course), but with the Blue Aurora, I miss that feeling. The lower end doesn’t leave any impression at all, it just feels completely bland and boring in the bass region. The sub-bass region is the same, with not much feel to the rumble even in bass-heavy tracks.
Mid Frequencies:-
This is where the pair marks its territory. It produces some really beautiful full-bodied vocals. The mid-frequencies are represented in such a manner that they actually make the output thick and lush. I personally love listening to some Indian music especially MTV Unplugged sessions, the pair excels in this territory with its beautiful vocals and rich acoustic instrument detailing.
High-Frequencies:-
The Blue Aurora produces some decent details in the lower-treble portion but it suffers roll-off early in the upper treble portion. This on one hand makes the output smooth, non-fatiguing, and sibilance free. On the other hand, it takes away the bright sparkly touch to the output that I personally prefer.
Soundstage and Instrument Separation:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora excels in the soundstage department too. It produces an excellent soundstage with adequate width and depth. I tested Binaural tracks by Yosi Horikawa and they are greeted with a good enough soundstage on the Blue Aurora. In terms of imaging capabilities, I feel the pair do just fine. Nothing exceptional here.
Final Verdict:-
I really love how beautifully the earpieces are crafted in the Blue Aurora, but it is very saddening to know the signature is not for me. I mean I would have loved some extra punch in the lower end. Apart from that, If you are looking to buy a pair with beautiful vocals and acoustic detailing, the Blue Aurora will surely serve you well.
The Tipsy Blue Aurora is a single Balanced Armature driver IEM, an entry-level offering from the brand. Yes, you heard it right the Tipsy Blue Aurora is the budget offering from the brand priced at just 75$. The beautifully designed earpieces are identical to that of Dunmer’s. The only difference being the Blue Aurora earpieces have as the name suggests Blueish faceplates while the Dunmer earpieces have black faceplates. You can order one for yourself from Linsoul.com.
Disclaimer:-
I received both the Tipsy Dunmer and the Tipsy Blue Aurora as a part of the review circle organized by the brand in my country. All impressions in this review are my own which I have noted keeping its price point in my mind. I am not affiliated with any brand to write positive or negative about the products. Read my review on my blog at www.gadgetgenerations.com.
Build Quality:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora has really beautiful super lightweight earpieces. Yeah, they are pretty identical to those with the Dunmer but if you ask me I loved the blueish Aurora-like faceplates that add a sparkle to the already beautiful looks of the pair. They come bundled with a 4-core cable with gunmetal colored connectors and a termination plug that is again identical to what we get with the Dunmer. Though the cable with Dunmer is actually an 8-core and has a chrome finish on the connectors and termination plug. Overall in terms of build quality, I found the pair to be a better-looking one as compared to the 120$ Dunmer.
Even with identical looks, the earpieces are actually a little bit smaller as compared to the Dunmer earpieces and provide a better fit. They seal the ear canal completely providing proper noise isolation while maintaining good comfort.
Powering the Tipsy Blue Aurora:-
The Blue Aurora is an easy to drive pair, it has a sensitivity rating of 105dB/mW at a 16-ohm load. It can be driven easily off your smartphones, but I always suggest using a portable Hi-res player for smooth decoding and quality sound output.
Sound Quality:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora has a mid-centric sound signature that is mainly focused on vocal response. The pair produce some brilliant vocals with rich detailing and clarity. Apart from the excellent mid-frequencies, the pair sounds quite dull in the lower end. The bass response is quite slow and not deep at all. I mean it might sound boring to some people who prefer some groovy thumps in their music. When it comes to the high frequencies, the treble portion shows good detailing. But again here the pair suffers an early roll-off in the upper treble that takes away some of the extensions from the pair. The pair doesn’t sound veiled or dark at all, it has a smooth non-fatiguing signature with superb lush vocals.
Lower End:-
I am not particularly a bass head but I love some punch, some quick precise thumps in my music. It adds life to my music(personal preference of course), but with the Blue Aurora, I miss that feeling. The lower end doesn’t leave any impression at all, it just feels completely bland and boring in the bass region. The sub-bass region is the same, with not much feel to the rumble even in bass-heavy tracks.
Mid Frequencies:-
This is where the pair marks its territory. It produces some really beautiful full-bodied vocals. The mid-frequencies are represented in such a manner that they actually make the output thick and lush. I personally love listening to some Indian music especially MTV Unplugged sessions, the pair excels in this territory with its beautiful vocals and rich acoustic instrument detailing.
High-Frequencies:-
The Blue Aurora produces some decent details in the lower-treble portion but it suffers roll-off early in the upper treble portion. This on one hand makes the output smooth, non-fatiguing, and sibilance free. On the other hand, it takes away the bright sparkly touch to the output that I personally prefer.
Soundstage and Instrument Separation:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora excels in the soundstage department too. It produces an excellent soundstage with adequate width and depth. I tested Binaural tracks by Yosi Horikawa and they are greeted with a good enough soundstage on the Blue Aurora. In terms of imaging capabilities, I feel the pair do just fine. Nothing exceptional here.
Final Verdict:-
I really love how beautifully the earpieces are crafted in the Blue Aurora, but it is very saddening to know the signature is not for me. I mean I would have loved some extra punch in the lower end. Apart from that, If you are looking to buy a pair with beautiful vocals and acoustic detailing, the Blue Aurora will surely serve you well.
Build Quality
The resin faceplate is a gorgeous blue/black which is inspired by the color of the aurora. The shells are extremely lightweight as it features only 1 BA inside.
The shell size is slightly smaller than its bigger brother the Dunmer and so it fits flush inside my small-medium ears.
The cable has a nice braid but is lesser in girth than that of the Dunmer. It also has a tendency to kink on itself. However the plugs and connectors have the same great build quality and weight to it.
The stock eartips provided are of silicon and narrow bore, but are of a sticky texture which helps with the grip, although pulling them out requires some work.
You also get 1 pair of foamies just like in the Dunmer. The review has been conducted with the stock silicon eartips.
Amp Needs
Although the Blue Aurora is rated the same as Dunmer, i.e, 105db/mW @ 16 ohm, it plays at a considerably lesser volume than the Dunmer and I find myself reaching for the volume more than the Dunmer.
If you're using this off phone, you will need to turn up the volume substantially in comparison to the Dunmer.
An external amplifier is not needed, I would however, like for all products would recommend a decent source or a dongle DAC paired with a phone to get the best performance.
Sound
Bass
The Blue Aurora has tamed bass, given its a BA. You shouldn't expect DD bass out of it. There isn't enough of it to make you go "wow!" and the bass roll off is early. It doesn't have the slam and impact that is regularly felt off a DD. Neither does it dig deep.
You can still "hear" it, but you won't feel it.
Midrange
The Blue Aurora has GLORIOUS midrange. It is a banger for the right person. It has the romanticized midrange characteristics that people often call "analog-like". The lower midrange is noticeably elevated, so the entire sound is thick and has body to it.
In my testing, I have only come across a couple of complex tracks where the lower midrange elevation plays against itself making the sound too thick.
The vocal performance, specially male, on the Aurora is good with detail, texture and an all encompassing tonal richness thanks to the advantages of the BA design.
You trade off the impactful bass and transients of the DD to get more transparent and natural sounding midrange on it.
The upper midrange isn't boosted making the sound harsh and shouty, in fact it lacks (very slightly!) the upper midrange glisten and bite which would have made the midrange tuning perfect for its intended flavor.
The tuning of lower and upper midrange thus can make some female vocalists sound a bit thicker than normal but not enough to be a deal breaker.
The overall vocal performance paired with the good amount of detail retrieval makes the Blue Aurora an awesome IEM on the budget for mid-centric listeners.
Treble
The treble is rolled off, you won't be getting great extension on the top end with raspy violin notes but the tuning in the presence and other key regions in the treble is enough to not disturb the overall tonality and tonal balance.
The Aurora is a far cry from being too dark, in fact the treble tuning is coherent with the lushness of the midrange and thus I have no gripes against it.
It complements and completes the overall voicing that Tipsy had been looking to achieve.
Dynamics
The macro-dynamics are lacking in the Aurora. I haven't heard an all BA design with good dynamics and this is no exception.
Transients are smoothed out, attacks are slightly softer. If you want a dynamic and engaging listen then its bigger 1DD brother the Dunmer is a worthy candidate.
Soundstage & Imaging
This is where tipsy has nailed it. The soundstage has room for the instruments to breathe. This is especially necessary if you are aiming for a mid-centric sound. Otherwise the overall sound would have been congealed. Thankfully, the soundstage width is good which results in very good instrument separation.
The imaging and image distribution never leaves me asking for more. The soundstage depth, just like the Dunmer, is just okay. It is unfair to look for soundstage depth in such affordable offerings.
The more than adequate width and great separation makes the Aurora sound that much better. It is one of the rarer examples of a mid-centric IEM that doesn't sound congested or congealed.
Conclusion
Coming in at around 65$, the Blue Aurora has a quintessential mid-centric BA sound and respect to the Tipsy team for making it so with just 1 BA.
This IEM plays excellently with vocal centric genres, music of the 60s-80s and still wont break a sweat if you throw other genres at it. It has a distinctive and confident tuning which becomes apparent on the very first listen. And more importantly, it is well executed.
A strong recommendation to anyone looking to experience the mid-centric and/or BA sound at a budget.
The resin faceplate is a gorgeous blue/black which is inspired by the color of the aurora. The shells are extremely lightweight as it features only 1 BA inside.
The shell size is slightly smaller than its bigger brother the Dunmer and so it fits flush inside my small-medium ears.
The cable has a nice braid but is lesser in girth than that of the Dunmer. It also has a tendency to kink on itself. However the plugs and connectors have the same great build quality and weight to it.
The stock eartips provided are of silicon and narrow bore, but are of a sticky texture which helps with the grip, although pulling them out requires some work.
You also get 1 pair of foamies just like in the Dunmer. The review has been conducted with the stock silicon eartips.
Amp Needs
Although the Blue Aurora is rated the same as Dunmer, i.e, 105db/mW @ 16 ohm, it plays at a considerably lesser volume than the Dunmer and I find myself reaching for the volume more than the Dunmer.
If you're using this off phone, you will need to turn up the volume substantially in comparison to the Dunmer.
An external amplifier is not needed, I would however, like for all products would recommend a decent source or a dongle DAC paired with a phone to get the best performance.
Sound
Bass
The Blue Aurora has tamed bass, given its a BA. You shouldn't expect DD bass out of it. There isn't enough of it to make you go "wow!" and the bass roll off is early. It doesn't have the slam and impact that is regularly felt off a DD. Neither does it dig deep.
You can still "hear" it, but you won't feel it.
Midrange
The Blue Aurora has GLORIOUS midrange. It is a banger for the right person. It has the romanticized midrange characteristics that people often call "analog-like". The lower midrange is noticeably elevated, so the entire sound is thick and has body to it.
In my testing, I have only come across a couple of complex tracks where the lower midrange elevation plays against itself making the sound too thick.
The vocal performance, specially male, on the Aurora is good with detail, texture and an all encompassing tonal richness thanks to the advantages of the BA design.
You trade off the impactful bass and transients of the DD to get more transparent and natural sounding midrange on it.
The upper midrange isn't boosted making the sound harsh and shouty, in fact it lacks (very slightly!) the upper midrange glisten and bite which would have made the midrange tuning perfect for its intended flavor.
The tuning of lower and upper midrange thus can make some female vocalists sound a bit thicker than normal but not enough to be a deal breaker.
The overall vocal performance paired with the good amount of detail retrieval makes the Blue Aurora an awesome IEM on the budget for mid-centric listeners.
Treble
The treble is rolled off, you won't be getting great extension on the top end with raspy violin notes but the tuning in the presence and other key regions in the treble is enough to not disturb the overall tonality and tonal balance.
The Aurora is a far cry from being too dark, in fact the treble tuning is coherent with the lushness of the midrange and thus I have no gripes against it.
It complements and completes the overall voicing that Tipsy had been looking to achieve.
Dynamics
The macro-dynamics are lacking in the Aurora. I haven't heard an all BA design with good dynamics and this is no exception.
Transients are smoothed out, attacks are slightly softer. If you want a dynamic and engaging listen then its bigger 1DD brother the Dunmer is a worthy candidate.
Soundstage & Imaging
This is where tipsy has nailed it. The soundstage has room for the instruments to breathe. This is especially necessary if you are aiming for a mid-centric sound. Otherwise the overall sound would have been congealed. Thankfully, the soundstage width is good which results in very good instrument separation.
The imaging and image distribution never leaves me asking for more. The soundstage depth, just like the Dunmer, is just okay. It is unfair to look for soundstage depth in such affordable offerings.
The more than adequate width and great separation makes the Aurora sound that much better. It is one of the rarer examples of a mid-centric IEM that doesn't sound congested or congealed.
Conclusion
Coming in at around 65$, the Blue Aurora has a quintessential mid-centric BA sound and respect to the Tipsy team for making it so with just 1 BA.
This IEM plays excellently with vocal centric genres, music of the 60s-80s and still wont break a sweat if you throw other genres at it. It has a distinctive and confident tuning which becomes apparent on the very first listen. And more importantly, it is well executed.
A strong recommendation to anyone looking to experience the mid-centric and/or BA sound at a budget.
