AROMA FEI WAN
Specifications
• 12 drivers with 4-way crossover,
• impedance of 18Ω at 1KHz,
• sensitivity of 103 dB SPL at 100 m V RMS,
• acoustic insulation of 26 dB (CM),
• frequency response of 20-20KHz.
It is composed of 10 balanced armature drivers and 2 9.2mm dynamic drivers, with a unique patented technology called "Magnetic Phase Pair Strong Coaxial Dynamic Driver Technology". This technology involves reversing the magnetic and coil polarity of one of the dynamic drivers, resulting in improved sound density and dynamics.
I tried and listened to Aroma Audio FEI WAN, kindly lent by my friend Xinlisupreme. Let's start with visual and tactile contact: Shell not small but comfortable and adaptable at least to my ear canal. Transparent yellow side color, very intriguing due to the visibility of the perfect internal construction with relative driver housing. Stands out in the yellow, the coppery internal color of the copper wires. Visually the contrast is very fascinating. The upper shell is always yellow, but darker and not transparent. Very nice Aroma cable, not slippery or stiff but light and easy to handle. This too is very refined and beautiful due to the assonance of colors, where the black color of the cable meets the burnished silver color of the connector (4.4 in this case).
I ran the test with:
LP6 Ti Luxury Precision (199)
Lotoo Paw Gold Touch Ti
iBasso DX320
The songs I chose for the comparison are part of my normal selection:
Rage Against the Machine (Killing in The Name) – Peter Gabriel (Apres Moi) – Jambinai (Onda) – Mono (Halcyon).
Well... with LP6 and LPGT the differences were very subtle and in fact I believe that the substantial differences were expressed more by the character of the two dap than by Fei Wan who kept his prerogatives, his character, his quality high. Different story for listening with iBasso 320.
With iBasso the mid-low and low range hits harder (whether you like it or not is a subjective factor). Very full-bodied, dense sound. Clear voices. Precise and quite detailed sound.
With LPGT the low range has less texture and sounds less deep in the mid-bass. Increase the speed and the sound remains more fluid but with less body. With LP6 Ti (199) it seems to be in the middle between iBasso and LPGT. Everything sounds more compliant and above all balanced. It remains a bit less "cold" than LPGT where the sound remains clear (without ever exaggerating). LP6 Ti (199) has a great personality and of the 3 daps it is the one that best suits Fei Wan's character. He gives it a more correct sound than on LPGT or iBasso320.
Same thing about the midrange. I sound quite close with LPGT and LP6 Ti, where (like the Jewel) you get lost in the quality (high I must say) and I think it is the star of listening to Fei Wan. Structured voices, just a hair behind the instruments, but by equalizing LP6 Ti and LPGT you can adjust this parameter (if desired). Very clean, precise high range. From memory I would perhaps venture to say that personally I prefer the high range of Fei Wan to that of Jewel. Su Fei Wan seems fresher, bolder, freer. With LP6 Ti the sound remains enveloping, soft, but always responds excellently when the songs require energy and liveliness.
With iBasso both the mid range and the high range remain very very granitic. The sound acquires great power and structure. All this is a bit to the detriment of focus and three-dimensionality. The sound, while remaining qualitative, remains less fluid and a little less fast than with the other two Daps. But I repeat...here there is also a personalized issue of listening pleasure. I'm notoriously not a fan of low range. The sound of iBasso is therefore the one where Fei Wan's low range is most exalted. Although I prefer Fei Wan's low range with LPGT, where it loses a bit of body and remains drier and more controlled.
The characteristics of Fei Wan, however dap regardless, are very clear. She is different from Thunder, different from Ace and Jewel. In common with Jewel, I appreciate the quality of the midrange. On the high range it remains the most pleasant Aroma that I have listened to so far. A mix of quality and freshness that is not easy to combine in a single iem. The sound has a good soundstage. Neither immense nor narrow. But very well circumscribed. It seems to be in an excellently treated recording room. Where the sound remains neither analytical nor artificial in the opposite sense. The voices are good in general, always and anyway. On LPGT they are slightly advanced compared to the instruments, while on LP6 they seem more in line with the instruments. With iBasso the voices are more structured but barely veiled. The high range was a revelation for me. Clear, full, fast, never tiring or lacking. I found it perfect if I may say so.
I had Aroma Ace. I listened carefully to Thunder and tried Jewel for a few hours. I'm not hiding: Among these (each of which I liked for different reasons) I however find that this is a sort of collection of the work done by Aroma previously for a different product. I found Fei Wan to be very balanced throughout. Harmonious, but fast, open, but without overdoing it. It's not the iem that you put on and say "Wow" (as happened to me with Viking Ragnar for example), but after a while you forget you have it. She is light, sweet, never tiring. A listen that is never tiring or demanding, but still of high quality, like almost all the Aromas I mentioned. If I were to buy an Aroma today, I would definitely get Fei Wan. A truly new product. Unexpected…that you still think about it even after a few hours of listening, trying to find its flaws….
Congratulations Aroma