[plakat]

Interesting new addition to the Aonic lineup: a TWS in-ear that's not an add-on to existing in-ears but a separate model... Could not resist.

https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/earphones/aonic_free

 

[ofern321]

Thanks.

Can anyone compare the sound to Shure/Aonic 215?

 

[plakat]

Thanks.

Can anyone compare the sound to Shure/Aonic 215?

Mine should arrive on Tuesday, but I sold both my SE215 recently... yet I expect the Aonic Free to reuse the same drivers (this is just speculation, mind you). Unfortunately the Shure pages are very sparse on technical details.

 

[plakat]

Just arrived... first impression is a bit bland, but inoffensiv. I first updated the firmware (every little thing now wants software updates...), took to the EQ and introduced a low shelf at 40Hz with 5dB, which lets me hear astounding low bass, clear structured and quite impressive. Mids are well balanced, voices sound clear. Treble is there, nothing sharp or sibilant. I'll get back to them later today. The case is rather big and not that suitable for pants pockets, the lid feels a bit flimsy yet it closed nicely. Button actions can be customized for left/right separately -- I immediately changed the double click to forward instead of environment mode (the default), which I moved to tripple click (I don't use any voice assistants, which is the default for 3x). They switch on when removed from the case, just like the new TW2 -- nice.

Did not find a way to see the battery state of the case so far...

 

[ofern321]

Just arrived... first impression is a bit bland, but inoffensiv. I first updated the firmware (every little thing now wants software updates...), took to the EQ and introduced a low shelf at 40Hz with 5dB, which lets me hear astounding low bass, clear structured and quite impressive. Mids are well balanced, voices sound clear. Treble is there, nothing sharp or sibilant. I'll get back to them later today. The case is rather big and not that suitable for pants pockets, the lid feels a bit flimsy yet it closed nicely. Button actions can be customized for left/right separately -- I immediately changed the double click to forward instead of environment mode (the default), which I moved to tripple click (I don't use any voice assistants, which is the default for 3x). They switch on when removed from the case, just like the new TW2 -- nice.

Did not find a way to see the battery state of the case so far...

Thanks. In the bottom photo, they look like a standard 215 mold with this big outer shell attached...

 

[plakat]

Thanks. In the bottom photo, they look like a standard 215 mold with this big outer shell attached...

That was my thought as well… unfortunately I sold both of my SE215 sets recently so I can’t compare directly. I think the Free is a bit smaller, but that may be due to the larger outer shell (which is smaller than anticipated btw).

Comfort is very good. The tips feel a bit dryer than the normal Shure foam tips if that makes any sense… they stay compressed a touch longer, making insertion easier.

 

[mblsd8]

That was my thought as well… unfortunately I sold both of my SE215 sets recently so I can’t compare directly. I think the Free is a bit smaller, but that may be due to the larger outer shell (which is smaller than anticipated btw).

Comfort is very good. The tips feel a bit dryer than the normal Shure foam tips if that makes any sense… they stay compressed a touch longer, making insertion easier.

Curious on a couple of things. SLund? Is it comparable to the se215 overall, signature similar to other shure in ears? And lastly how’s the fit? Do they stick out a lot from the ears? I have the TW2 with SE846 which I have no desire to change from but I do like to have a separate set just for a quick workout or phone calls etc.

 

[fablestruck]

Any info about the type of driver(s) employed?

 

[plakat]

Curious on a couple of things. SLund? Is it comparable to the se215 overall, signature similar to other shure in ears? And lastly how’s the fit? Do they stick out a lot from the ears? I have the TW2 with SE846 which I have no desire to change from but I do like to have a separate set just for a quick workout or phone calls etc.

Unfortunately I don't own any set of SE215 anymore, but from memory I'd say the SE215 is a bit more lively.
Fit is fine for my ears, though I did not try them while walking so far (I don't just have too many headphones, but to many in-ears as well They don't stick out that much, only that larger part of the shell is outside of course. But that is rather flat.

Any info about the type of driver(s) employed?

Not that I know of. I'd guess its a dynamic driver similar to the SE215... if it were anything special, Shure would have offered information about that...

 

[plakat]

A review in German:
https://www.kopfhoerer.de/test/shure-aonic-free/

 

[plakat]

And another software update (mine had an update available when I first connected them):
https://www.shure.com/en-US/support...15-and-true-wireless-secure-fit-adapter-gen-2

 

[plakat]

Another review:
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/shure-aonic-free

 

[fablestruck]

Another review:
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/shure-aonic-free

They look enormous though.

 

[sofastreamer]

tempted by these, as i fell in love with shure back in the days, when the srh 940 came out. owned pretty much any shure headphone/iem since than, but none blew me away like the 940s did. if handling of the new tws is at least as convenient as my wf 1000xm3, I will give them a try.

 

[plakat]

They look enormous though.

They are very comfortable and don’t look that big when worn.

tempted by these, as i fell in love with shure back in the days, when the srh 940 came out. owned pretty much any shure headphone/iem since than, but none blew me away like the 940s did. if handling of the new tws is at least as convenient as my wf 1000xm3, I will give them a try.

Wow… I did own quite a number of Shure products so far (mainly in-ears and microphones), but far from most of them…
Unfortunately I never tried the xm3, so I can’t compare. The concept looks quite the same, and the Free is really comfortable.