Aful Performer Impressions Thread

[Singaravelan]

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/aful-polarnight.28063/review/37790/

Review by @GiullianSN

Love the treble crispiness and air (and natural mids/tactile bass for that matter) on the Penon Conductor. That, allied with the staging, has almost made me shun iems in certain surroundings or at least not make me miss em.

So, perhaps should get this PNight too. Less expensive then iems for sure! Seems a bit different than Conductor, so won't be similar flavour.

@Hypops did you bite on earbud or resisted the urge?

.. In Bombay, on the Conductor, listening to...

 

[Hypops]

@Hypops did you bite on earbud or resisted the urge?

You know me too well. I've had my finger on the trigger all day.

With my new hearing traits, I'm thinking it might be wise to switch from IEMs to flatheads for my daily commutes. IEMs are notorious for aggravating all kinds of hearing issues. And I'm not a fan of the "start budget" approach since that can easily lead to false conclusions. The PolarNight seems to be right in the sweet spot of price, performance, pack-ins, build quality, and size.

 

[Singaravelan]

You know me too well. I've had my finger on the trigger all day.

With my new hearing traits, I'm thinking it might be wise to switch from IEMs to flatheads for my daily commutes. IEMs are notorious for aggravating all kinds of hearing issues. And I'm not a fan of the "start budget" approach since that can easily lead to false conclusions. The PolarNight seems to be right in the sweet spot of price, performance, pack-ins, build quality, and size.

Absolutely. Ever since I got back Conductor from a friend, been really digging em.
And yes go for Aful..I had a cheaper starter buds before but the thing with em is muddy mids or veiled treble etc. better to go with PNight.

And even in the cafe i frequent, that buds work rather well. And at home there is enough situational awareness to not miss doorbells etc! But primarily the Soundscape with staging is worth.

You have the Punch when in need for more visceral subbass. Rest buds should take care

 

[Hypops]

Absolutely. Ever since I got back Conductor from a friend, been really digging em.
And yes go for Aful..I had a cheaper starter buds before but the thing with em is muddy mids or veiled treble etc. better to go with PNight.

And even in the cafe i frequent, that buds work rather well. And at home there is enough situational awareness to not miss doorbells etc! But primarily the Soundscape with staging is worth.

You have the Punch when in need for more visceral subbass. Rest buds should take care

Excellent. Because I'm in the process of paring way back on my collection, picking up a decent flathead seems like it could fill the remaining gaps nicely.

 

[GiullianSN]

I’d go Polarnight as well, specially for someone jumping on this underground hobby of a hobby. Fits better, looks better and sounds quite well with most of the things I tried.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

You know me too well. I've had my finger on the trigger all day.

With my new hearing traits, I'm thinking it might be wise to switch from IEMs to flatheads for my daily commutes. IEMs are notorious for aggravating all kinds of hearing issues. And I'm not a fan of the "start budget" approach since that can easily lead to false conclusions. The PolarNight seems to be right in the sweet spot of price, performance, pack-ins, build quality, and size.

Excellent. Because I'm in the process of paring way back on my collection, picking up a decent flathead seems like it could fill the remaining gaps nicely.

Absolutely. Ever since I got back Conductor from a friend, been really digging em.
And yes go for Aful..I had a cheaper starter buds before but the thing with em is muddy mids or veiled treble etc. better to go with PNight.

And even in the cafe i frequent, that buds work rather well. And at home there is enough situational awareness to not miss doorbells etc! But primarily the Soundscape with staging is worth.

You have the Punch when in need for more visceral subbass. Rest buds should take care

Yeah, you can't go wrong with the Polar Night. Sometimes I forget they aren't IEMs. The sonics are that approximate (except sub bass). I dig them for when my ear holes get tired of IEM tips in them.

I wish I would have jumped on the Conductor early bird special when I could have gotten them for $99.00. I still kick myself for balking.

 

[lairpost]

Thought I'd add my impressions/experience with the Explorer and P7. I've purchased both twice now over time and returned both initially, then kept the Explorer, returning the P7. I suspect there is some unit variability with these sets...I stuck with the same source, iBasso DX180 balanced for all use.

I spent a solid 3 weeks of listening to each. Multiple hours a day as is normal for me. At the end I decided the P7 simply didn't justify its nearly 3x price difference and the Explorer was more statisfying for my ear. Often I found the P7 high frequency driver bringing out the annoying characteristics of a bad recording instead of enhancing the stage or imaging. The Explorer also EQs fantastically as a good design should to be the chameleon to fit the mood or mastering. And it was only $90 on discount a few weeks ago. No, the $ really don't matter to me all that much but I do need to achieve perceived value otherwise it's wasted $ and should be invested to earn more $ (or not in this self-imposed US destruction of the global trade economy).

Be well my friends and remember to breathe, enjoy the music, and the simple pleasures of life everyday.

 

[Hypops]

@Hypops did you bite on earbud or resisted the urge?

Arriving tomorrow.

 

[Singaravelan]

Arriving tomorrow.

It appears donut foams the way to go with these PNights.

Anyways, let me know your impressions. Thinking of getting to contrast with Conductor. Will await your impressions...

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

It appears donut foams the way to go with these PNights.

Anyways, let me know your impressions. Thinking of getting to contrast with Conductor. Will await your impressions...

donuts are in fact not the way to go. Full bass foam covers are the way to go. From a fitment and sonic perspective.

 

[Singaravelan]

donuts are in fact not the way to go. Full bass foam covers are the way to go. From a fitment and sonic perspective.

Ah cool... And this full foam comes with the package right?

 

[Hypops]

Ah cool... And this full foam comes with the package right?

Nope. Just a bunch of donuts in three different colors. Not crazy about the fit or the sound out of the box. Debating whether to buy some other foams and silicone rings or just ship it back. Very forward upper mids and not a terribly comfortable fit.

EDIT: Still just the first couple hours, but I actually prefer these without the included foams. Just naked. Bass is less boomy, treble is more present and balances out the forward upper mids. Might give silicone rings a try.

EDIT 2: Fit is no joke. I've heard that this is true of flatheads in general, but I'm discovering just how significant a difference it makes how I position the earbud in my ear. This might take a while to get my bearings and get right.

 

[o0genesis0o]

Double post from discovery

My graph (take it with a bucket of salt. These graphs are never accurate)

I measure more bass than AFUL's 5128 graph (I think 5128. Need to check the doc again). I also think the 15 db ear gain is pretty real. But buds measure different from IEMs, so you shouldn't compare apple-to-orange here. 15dB on IEM is deadly. 15dB on buds feels like a standard Harman 12.5dB on IEMs. Still, I wish AFUL pulls this down just a touch.

Across all of my buds, only TGXear serratus has a similar level of treble extension. Surprise surprise (well, not surprising, actually), both of them are the most of technical buds I have ever tested.

Edit: that's an excellent level of channel balance, btw. I have seen much worse from factory-made buds. But to be fair, it's not as impressive as how DIYer manage to achieve channel balance despite all the drilling and moding they did to the shells, given that everything is 3D printed inside PolarNight.

Edit 2: I don't recommend using full foams on these. Subjectively, I hear worse bass response, less dynamic. Objectively, I measure a slight drop in bass response. The hypothesis here is that AFUL deliberately uses the donut foams to increase the ventilation at the front of the driver. Thus full foam = choking the driver beyond the intended design.

 

[Singaravelan]

Nope. Just a bunch of donuts in three different colors. Not crazy about the fit or the sound out of the box. Debating whether to buy some other foams and silicone rings or just ship it back. Very forward upper mids and not a terribly comfortable fit.

EDIT: Still just the first couple hours, but I actually prefer these without the included foams. Just naked. Bass is less boomy, treble is more present and balances out the forward upper mids. Might give silicone rings a try.

EDIT 2: Fit is no joke. I've heard that this is true of flatheads in general, but I'm discovering just how significant a difference it makes how I position the earbud in my ear. This might take a while to get my bearings and get right.

So what's the verdict now?

As I told you before I used to fuss a lot about fit/angle of earbuds... Not anymore. I let it sit on the outside ear part..twist a bit and let it be.. if you press from its back, you will definitely feel sound improve a bit no doubt.
But as things stand with my fit, it's bliss. I don't even feel like I have anything on my ears after a while. But that spot you will reach only after a couple of months. Until the twitching itch would be there!

Am quite unsure about these PNight. Someone says too dark. Some say great treble extension. What's your take thus far. Will help me decide.

Conductor pulls out such great details and has that crispy treble tonality that I pretty chuffed about.

Have no issue with PNight not being treble crispy as I don't mind an alternate tuning (the reason am still saving up for Symphonium Giant, while awaiting more reviews).. But at least I should know what iam getting into with Pn before I buy.

And for those on the 'dark' camp with this or any iem, I suggest buying Venture Electronic VE Odo dongle. It does tame bass a bit (but not loosen, tightens it) but it's bright treble is outstanding. It's just 5 dollars! So please to buy. I use it for warm iems to great satisfaction. I often use it with Miroak also when I want more treble richness when am in the mood for that. And it's always on with Conductor - great synergy.

The New VE dongle is VE devastator -- balanced-warm I hear (20$) that @Leonarfd uses on the go , which I intend to get. But the one am talking about is VE Odo. Bassheads can stay away perhaps. And only with warm iems imo.. with allready bright stuff it gets a bit much.

 

[Hypops]

So what's the verdict now?

As I told you before I used to fuss a lot about fit/angle of earbuds... Not anymore. I let it sit on the outside ear part..twist a bit and let it be.. if you press from its back, you will definitely feel sound improve a bit no doubt.
But as things stand with my fit, it's bliss. I don't even feel like I have anything on my ears after a while. But that spot you will reach only after a couple of months. Until the twitching itch would be there!

Am quite unsure about these PNight. Someone says too dark. Some say great treble extension. What's your take thus far. Will help me decide.

Conductor pulls out such great details and has that crispy treble tonality that I pretty chuffed about.

Have no issue with PNight not being treble crispy as I don't mind an alternate tuning (the reason am still saving up for Symphonium Giant, while awaiting more reviews).. But at least I should know what iam getting into with Pn before I buy.

And for those on the 'dark' camp with this or any iem, I suggest buying Venture Electronic VE Odo dongle. It does tame bass a bit (but not loosen, tightens it) but it's bright treble is outstanding. It's just 5 dollars! So please to buy. I use it for warm iems to great satisfaction. I often use it with Miroak also when I want more treble richness when am in the mood for that. And it's always on with Conductor - great synergy.

The New VE dongle is VE devastator -- balanced-warm I hear (20$) that @Leonarfd uses on the go , which I intend to get. But the one am talking about is VE Odo. Bassheads can stay away perhaps. And only with warm iems imo.. with allready bright stuff it gets a bit much.

Hmmm. I have a lot of thoughts, but I'm still not confident in how I have them fitting. So any impressions are colored by my lack of a good fit (to say nothing of my lack of earbud experience and lack of comparisons to other earbuds). Take this all with a huge grain of salt, and know that my opinion will almost certainly change with time and experience.

That said, I don't find the PolarNight at all dark. Warm? Yes. But dark? No. In fact, I was initially put off by how strident and forward the upper mids and lower treble were (with the stock donut foams). They initially sounded a lot like how @o0genesis0o 's graph looks, with that very steep and very tall pinna gain region. The exact opposite of "dark." I didn't like them at first.

I then tried them without any foams and found the overall balance much better, even if that almost entirely eliminated the bass response (no seal). Naked, the upper mid peak is subdued and the treble steps forward. But they lose their fit stability without foams. I've got silicone rings on the way so I can experiment more with a foam-less fit.

Then I went back to experimenting with the stock donuts. Now I've got them fitting securely and comfortably and sounding better than when I first tried them. The farther away they sit from my ear canal, the better they sound. Like with going foamless, that position tames the upper mids and brings up the treble (but not quite as much as going naked). The other advantage is that, unlike going foamless, I still get a decent bass response. Just means cranking up the volume a bit.

My current take is: they sound alright, but their big advantage over IEMs is their use case. They are perfect for walking. No occlusion effect, plus I gain situational awareness. But I'm going to keep experimenting with different foams, rings, and fits.