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

[MusicalChillies]

I am sorry but using someone with 1 ear is not a valid test of music. I suppose you do have a backup if 1 fails though.

 

[gnarlsagan]

Quote:

 
If you can find a review that is unbiased I'll be impressed. It is simply impossible. We are shaped by our own biases. No matter what reviewer you talk to, they are all biased. Fairness is another story. And he was rather fair if not a bit brief in his description. If he had gone into detail, he still would have had an issue because of how eke felt about the IEMs he holds in such high regard with his very specific set up that has synergy.
 
It doesn't matter if you seem unbiased, that doesn't matter. He more had an issue with the lack of detail, but considering the amount of detail in the rest of the review, I didn't have a problem with that because by that point I knew what he meant with every term.

 
IMHO my ASG-2 vs ER4S comparison is a good example of an unbiased review. Yes it is my subjective experience, but what most helps others is that we try to remain objective about our experiences, without assigning value to them (there's plenty of time for that outside of reviews). I was a newspaper editor for a time, so that helps in trying to remain unbiased in wording.
 
I'll cross post it here from the original Aurisonics thread:
 
Quote:

ASG-2 vs ER4S
 
Comparisons are done on a Leckerton UHA-6S.MKII. 
 
Bass: On the lowest bass setting the ASG-2 still has more bass than the ER4S. The lowest setting sounds similar to GR07 bass quantity from what I remember, although slightly less. This lowest setting will be the setting for the rest of the comparison. The G-2's bass isn't as clearly defined or as tight as the 4S. The decay is longer, and so bass notes meld into each other more than on the ER4S, although probably not more than the GR07. This elevated G-2 bass affects the mids slightly, accentuating lower mids compared to the 4S. There are, however, other things going on in the mids and upper-mids that set these two iems apart.
 
Mids: The lower mids are more accentuated on the G-2, resulting in a warmer vocal compared to the 4S. But things start to change as we move up the frequency range. While the G-2 curves downward, the 4S curves upward, leaving the 4S with overall much more forward mids. I picture an FR chart of the G-2 to have a slight dip from 2kHz to 4kHz, simliar to the GR07. So, vocals on the G-2 tend towards warmer than the ER4S not only because of the G-2's accentuated bass, but also because of the upward curve of the mids on the ER4S.
 
As for details, the G-2 doesn't make vocal nuances as apparent as the ER4S, but this could be due largely in part to quieter vocals on the G-2. 
 
Treble: Treble is more difficult to assess. It does have a peak ~8kHz compared to the 4S's slight dip, but it is very similar in quantity to the ER4S overall, although I'd say the G-2 has a bit more. I believe the G-2's dip in the mids/upper-mids results in a more forward sounding treble comparatively. Since the mids/upper-mids of the ER4S is accentuated, treble of the same quantity won't sound as forward. What this means is that sibilance is slightly more accentuated on the G-2, as are loud cymbal crashes and snare drums.
 
But the quality and detail of the G-2's treble are very close to the 4S, although not as linear imo. Animal Collective's Brother Sport has a lot of complex sounds competing in the treble, and each sound was clearly delineated to my ears on the G-2, a feat the GR07 failed. 
 
Overall Sound: The ASG-2 is not as linear as the ER4S. There are dips and peaks on the G-2 that do not exist on the 4S. Imaging, however, is just as good as the ER4. Layering and instrument separation are about equal, although they go about it in different ways. The slightly elevated treble and bass of the G-2 help to define individual instruments in their respective frequencies, while the ER4 uses driver speed and short decay times to define instrument separation. The ER4 sounds smoother as a result, and perhaps a bit more detailed, although not quite as layered, an effect of these iems' different approaches to imaging.
 
To give a better example, a cymbal and a low bass note on the G-2 will sound more pronounced than on the ER4, and the difference between them will be greater on the G-2. The same cymbal and low bass note are less pronounced on the ER4, and the smaller difference between the two sounds results in a bit less instrument separation, and the smoother sound I hear on the ER4.  
 
I've reported my findings as objectively as possible, and will leave it up to the reader to make value judgements accordingly (although I'm sure I'll make plenty later in this thread).

 

[Gintaras]

gnarlsagan, thanks, indeed this is the type of impression which helps average user like me, love your way of comparison which gives me some good insight into how these two compare. still i am a sucker for new things so perhaps would prefer ASG2 to old-timer ER4... no stealth version however as i do not fancy paying on top extra 100$ for hand paint IEM and can live without Van Gogh poster 

ok, once settle a few my purchases of gear, yeah i decided to get Audiophilleo with PP, i will go check ASG2. this hobby pains and in addition i paid nearly 1K $ in concert tickets for the year since i cannot miss Peter Gabriel and Roger Waters and some others... i am concert addict too.

 

[waynes world]

Quote:

Speaking of which:
So I was at work yesterday and had my ASG-1 on and three people couldn't get my attention from 3 feet across the way until one of them came up to my desk and tapped me on the shoulder. She said she thought I had hearing aids on to which I responded "I would need new hearing aids then now wouldn't I.

"
Good times.

 
Now that was funny! 

 

[chengsta]

Hello guys, I did a review on the asg 2 about a month ago and I have to apologize.  I got a jh16 pro and I was shocked that it sounded exactly like the asg 2, with bass ports closed.  (warmish/neutral/dull, in otherwords:  disappointed).  I just plugged it into a co workers sansa clip, and wow I am super impressed.  This made me realize that the jh16's and the asg 2's were picking up the crappy music coming from my source (ipod nano 6g).  I didn't think the nano was that bad, really, until now.  That's what I get for believing everything I read about dacs/aftermarket cables making no impact on sound quality.
 
I think I may have enjoyed the asg 2 and probably woulda purchased it if I had some high quality source with me at the time.
 
A lesson to all of you out there:  If you get high end headphones/iems, it will make your low end source sound really really bad.

 

[eke2k6]

Hello guys, I did a review on the asg 2 about a month ago and I have to apologize.  I got a jh16 pro and I was shocked that it sounded exactly like the asg 2, with bass ports closed.  (warmish/neutral/dull).  I just plugged it into a co workers sansa clip, and wow I am super impressed.  This made me realize that the jh16's and the asg 2's were picking up the crappy music coming from my source (ipod nano 6g).  I didn't think the nano was that bad, really, until now.  That's what I get for believing everything I read about dacs/aftermarket cables being the same.

I think I may have enjoyed the asg 2 and probably woulda purchased it if I had some high quality source with me at the time.

A lesson to all of you out there:  If you get high end headphones/iems, it will make your low end source sound really really bad.

That's quite strange. I think the issue may have been your source files, not the player itself. As warm as the asg-2 is, it's still pretty damn resolving and transparent. Badly mastered 128 Kbps tracks would sound...bad, but it wouldn't spit in your face like some iems would.

Maybe listen to the exact tracks on both the clip and nano to make sure.

 

[eke2k6]

Also double check to make sure you don't have the iPods eq turned on.

 

[chengsta]

Quote:

Also double check to make sure you don't have the iPods eq turned on.

 
I never eq with my ipod, it's worthless.  I did try bass boost on/off with my amp though.  And the tracks I played through the asg 2's were all 320kbps.  I'm running low on cash so I can't just buy a clip, but if someone wants to lend me one to mess with, I'd do some comparisons and see once and for all whether dacs do make the difference or my music was just carp.  Or just wait until that fiio x3 comes out, I'm probably going to get it.
 

 

[eke2k6]

Quote:

 
I never eq with my ipod, it's worthless.  I did try bass boost on/off with my amp though.  And the tracks I played through the asg 2's were all 320kbps.  I'm running low on cash so I can't just buy a clip, but if someone wants to lend me one to mess with, I'd do some comparisons and see once and for all whether dacs do make the difference or my music was just carp.  Or just wait until that fiio x3 comes out, I'm probably going to get it.
 

 
Sure, I could lend you my clip. It's currently relegated to car duty, but I'll pass it along next week. PM me your info.

 

[kkcc]

FWIW, I find that Rhapsodio actually linked to both Eke and A_recording's "negative review" (per Rhapsodio's Facebook) and instead of defending or explaining the rdb+ 2v1, they are actually taking the comments in stride and is taking the 2v1 off the shelf. Rhapsodio themselves even went as far as concurring the 2v1 (supposedly a flat sounding Version the "fun" v1) is an experimental failure. Must say I'm quite shock and pleasantly surprised how they handle HFers review and comments since they are not even interacting with us here.

http://m.facebook.com/rhapsodiohk

 

[shotgunshane]

Interesting. Thanks for the Facebook link. Always good to read manufacturers taking the listeners impressions to heart.

 

[vwinter]

Quote:

FWIW, I find that Rhapsodio actually linked to both Eke and A_recording's "negative review" (per Rhapsodio's Facebook) and instead of defending or explaining the rdb+ 2v1, they are actually taking the comments in stride and is taking the 2v1 off the shelf. Rhapsodio themselves even went as far as concurring the 2v1 (supposedly a flat sounding Version the "fun" v1) is an experimental failure. Must say I'm quite shock and pleasantly surprised how they handle HFers review and comments since they are not even interacting with us here.

http://m.facebook.com/rhapsodiohk

 
Wow...
Non-Mobile link

 

[vwinter]

Quote:

Interesting. Thanks for the Facebook link. Always good to read manufacturers taking the listeners impressions to heart.

 
Not only that but agreeing... Kind of like they had a bad feeling this whole time but were waiting for confirmation. Either way, I don't know if I should be impressed or shocked, but it's pretty awesome.

 

[kyuuketsuki]

I'm always impressed how manufacturers respond to head-fi reviews and criticisms.

This is just another example.

 

[Mach3]

Thanks eke2k6 for your great review. I'm glad I've stumble across this thread, it gonna save me $$$ as I'm planning on getting HD600 as recommended instead of forking out $1300 plus to get the Translucent 1Plus2 (I was getting really curious what 1k plus IEM was like).
 
Can anyone comment on the following please.
-I've read your review on the HD600 vs HE-500. I currently owned the HD650, is it safe to say the HD650 has the same signature as the HD600 just more wamer?
 
-Heard people raving over the JH13 Pro Freqphase and the JH16 Pro Freqphase. Anyone know the open/close headphone equivalent of the two custom IEM 1k just seem too steep to exercise my curiosity.