[REVIEW] Aurisonics ASG-2 & 2.5 (with many comparisons)

[Idsynchrono_24]

Yeaaa, I don't think that'll happen unless Apple buys them out and integrates it into iOS. And they should or something similar.

I'm actually kinda amazed that Apple doesn't at least have a no frills parametric EQ baked in, I mean... Even friggin iTunes has one :l

 

[vwinter]

^ Me too. Maybe that'll be one of the iOS 7 surprises. :rolleyes:
You know along with an ASG-0.5 in every box.

 

[Idsynchrono_24]

Wait, I meant graphic, they don't even have a vanilla graphic EQ for the iPhone, nevermind parametric lol, then again, iOS has been so hilariously stagnant that we'll probably all be listening to perfect graphene based phones by the time they roll out parametric lol

Edit: been listening to Shane's EQ settings. They are pretty damn nice!

 

[dnullify]

Whoah fellas.
 
215 hours of pink noise at moderate volumes has made a definite difference.
 
Right now i've got the tips larger than i usually wear, with a shallower insertion, and the bass ports just barely open.
 
treble is still hot - I don't think that's going to go away without modification. Honestly i think that's just a certain frequency that all three drivers are hitting with slight excess, the sum of which is just too darn hot.
 
That set aside, these sound fabulous. Female vocals are awesome - male vocals (higher ones) are a bit hot.
 
By the way, the Melody Gardot album The Absence is fantastic through the ASG-2. Her voice tickles the brain

 

[gnarlsagan]

Quote:

I thought I'd share my 'Equalizer' settings on the iPhone for the ASG-2. I think it adds clarity to the upper mids in spades and improves transparency. Vocals sound great.

8k, -3db, Q=4
4,500, +5db, Q=1.2
2k, +3db, Q=1.2
1k, -3db, Q=1.5
30hz, +4db, Q=1

By the time Rin's measurements come out, I will have long passed the G-2 on but I'm sure they would help fine tune it.

Edit: I should add I have the bass valve as close to closed as possible, without actually being closed.

 
When I had the ASG-2 I was actually experimenting with extremely similar eq settings. But I couldn't ever nail it down, since it is a rather complex setting as opposed to a straight bass bump for example. Hopefully more people try your settings here and report back.
 
If Aurisonics ever decides to update the ASG-2 into something closer to this eq setting then I might consider buying them again.
 
 
Quote:

Ok so I had done more listening and as promised am updating. I stand by my impressions but it's mainly due to semantics. You almost had me, almost lol.

You seem to be intertwining vocal timbre and accuracy into one wholistic definition, whereas I separate them. I maintain that vocal timbre is great because voices sound like voices. They don't sound "off" as in odd or strange or unrealistic. They have good texture, body, and weight, and don't sound hollow, stuffy, or nasal, and so on. I never mentioned vocal accuracy in my write-up and didn't imply that they had it as far as I can see. But then you can get into accuracy to what, life or recordings or masterings? And since they vary across any album, it can get dicey, no? The sibilance does hurt timbre when it shows up but it hasn't been very common in my library.
Well then I will defer to your assessment lol. 

I actually think I might know where you're coming from here and in my mind has something to do with when I wrote that they sounded warm but not really inviting.

 
I see what you're saying about timbre. I looked up the definition and I think you're right to separate timbre and accuracy, although they are related. Voices are very detailed and definitely have a lot of the right attributes that make them sound like voices, even though to me they sound warmer (less accurate one might say) than real life. But that doesn't mean much for anyone else's hearing but my own, especially considering james444's excellent previous post on in-ear hearing differences in the mids. I do think a lot of people must hear mids as warmer than I do in real life, which most easily explains the widespread preference for warm gear.
 
Also, do you think SGS's eq settings improve timbre at all? Or would it just be accuracy in your opinion?  

 

[UnityIsPower]

I need this in my life;

http://www.harmanhowtolisten.blogspot.com/2011/01/welcome-to-how-to-listen.html?m=1

 

[Theogenes]

Quote:

I need this in my life;

http://www.harmanhowtolisten.blogspot.com/2011/01/welcome-to-how-to-listen.html?m=1

 
Yeah, I found that recently too. I was feeling smug about acing all the frequency tests (naturally, I didn't read the instructions, prepare, etc-- I'm a damn MAN, after all), until I got to a certain level and realized I had some major issues distinguishing between some of the areas between treble and midrange. My accuracy rates just kept plummeting, and I eventually got irritated and quit. 
 
At some point, I'll go back and spend a little more time actually learning something instead of assuming I knew every damn thing. I'm very glad that this tool exists, and I think I'll be a better listener as a result. 
 
But I still innately hate anything I'm not awesome at 

. 

 

[UnityIsPower]

^LOL

 

[ericp10]

So Fiio never ceases to amaze me with the value given in their products. This cable is no different. The RC-WT1 seems to give the AS-2 a more balanced sound with a wider soundstage. A little bit more separation between instrumentation, and tighter punchier bass (compared to the stock cable). That's all I'll state for now as I get more time in with the cable and AS-2, but I'm quite impressed at the moment.

 

[UnityIsPower]

Added more info to my post:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/664613/review-aurisonics-asg-2-plus-sd3-1plus2-tg334-senn-ie800-flat-4-sui-rdb-2v1/1995#post_9647888

 

[audionewbi]

Had some times to compare cardas mode1, ASG-2, RDB+ (both IEM) and here are my findings:
 
ASG-2 is better constructed and tuned than both the RDB+ IEM I have with me at the moment. I really do not like RDB+ tuning, the sound feels v-shaped. 
Comparing ASG-2 with cardas model 1 (which at first I disliked ) I find cardas has a much better textured bass and more smoother mid-range. Sound stage is wider on cardas however ASG-2 is by no means have a congested soundstage.

 

[shotgunshane]

@gnarlsagan, my phone won't quote this last part: "Also, do you think SGS's eq settings improve timbre at all? Or would it just be accuracy in your opinion? "

It makes it more accurate, clear and transparent mostly, which improves low level detail retrieval. Timbre is already very good IMO but the eq does slightly improve it for some instruments.

 

[vwinter]

Added more info to my post:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/664613/review-aurisonics-asg-2-plus-sd3-1plus2-tg334-senn-ie800-flat-4-sui-rdb-2v1/1995#post_9647888

I'm gonna listen to that video you posted there today out of interest lol.

Buuuut I reread that section of Tylls review and forget the whole treble issue. How the heck did he hear the bass lacking extension?
I don't know about the AS-2 but the ASG-2 with ports open 1/3 of the way to the first notch starts moving air, definitely, at 14hz, maybe even lower. You can feel the rumble, ie past what is considered the lower limit of human hearing.

 

[shotgunshane]

Yeah, my tone generator only goes to 20hz but there was no sign of significant roll off at 20.

 

[vwinter]

I see what you're saying about timbre. I looked up the definition and I think you're right to separate timbre and accuracy, although they are related. Voices are very detailed and definitely have a lot of the right attributes that make them sound like voices, even though to me they sound warmer (less accurate one might say) than real life. But that doesn't mean much for anyone else's hearing but my own, especially considering james444's excellent previous post on in-ear hearing differences in the mids. I do think a lot of people must hear mids as warmer than I do in real life, which most easily explains the widespread preference for warm gear.
 
Also, do you think SGS's eq settings improve timbre at all? Or would it just be accuracy in your opinion?  

Haha let's not talk about who James killed.
I agree with your post, pretty much in its entirety lol.

I can't really make that kind of assessment right now about the timbre and accuracy of the EQ because of the limited time I've had with it.