The discovery thread!

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I guess the key to the P7 is that it highlights just how good AFUL's R&D team is: in refining production materials, optimising driver configs, coupled with truly amazing tuners.
I'll definitely be adding the Pinnacle P7 next year - which will sync in perfectly with the upcoming K11 R2R set up, which will prep me for CanJam London.
I'm really buzzing about owning this level of HE gear...srsly what a hobby !!

Agreed. The level of optimization and performance we're getting at the mid-fi and even the low low mid-fi ($100+ range) is ridiculous. Then we have the sources like the DCE and N3U taking us into kilobuck territory performance at a fraction of the price. Has me extremely excited and curious how transformative CanJam will be for me, when I start auditioning these TOTL/Summit-fi gears and see what I've been missing out on?

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Kiwi Ears KE4 is now my favourite IEM. I have just listened to this below via Hidizs AP80 Pro X and Penon OS133 USB-C dongle. What a fantastic performance and recording!

This is a definite ringing endorsement coming from you! But what about thru the B4-X? The AP80 Pro X, tbqf, is my least performing source I own, but definitely great with darker leaning/bassy IEMs.

 

[theintention]

MAIL CALL FROM HIFIGO!!!

So had to make sure I could show this since the AFUL was the main attraction, and I didn't want to step on toes, and I'm still "new" at this, but...

Rose Technics/Roseselsa Quiet Sea arrived on the heels of the AFUL P 5+2/7. Thank you to AFUL + Hifigo for providing this opportunity, and for the Pula Anvil as well.

Long story short, these Quiet Sea are UNSUNG!! How in god's green earth did these single DD's sneak past anyone?! They are like a cross between the KZ Saga and the Wyvery Abyss Black, but with better detail retrieval, and stage depth. The stage is a standout. This is something @Jmop would enjoy. Treble is a smidge shy, but think there's enough to keep things interesting, due to the stage width and depth, and the clean but still warmish midrange. Got lost in the Ezra Collective and the N3U with these. My Goodness, I was blessed with two fantastic IEMs this day. Don't have too many left incoming, and this will end up being my slow down, as 1 ) I want to focus on my reviews and my rotation, and not get bogged down 2 ) did I mention these two are fantastic?! Yeah...they are.

The QuietSea is really a spectacular sounding IEM. The nozzle and shape really suck though lol I would like them to make a follow up to this tuning with a more… universal fit.

If you have Symbio tips, I found those to fix the fit as good as possible tho.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

So... we could get a little preview of your overall rating of P7?

So far it looks like this?

• Timbre and tonality: 5/5 - Very Good
• Bass and dynamic: 4.5/5 - good
• Resolution: 4/5 - Good
• Soundstage and imaging: 4.5/5 - Good

How do you still like your DynaQuattro? Still near the top of your love list?

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Fiio... FM Radio?


https://x.com/FIIO_official/status/1806610549326971157

After releasing CD Player, Walkman cassete player like DAC/AMP, now FM radio?
i suppose vinyl player is next?
---

and Libra-X is now sold in KZ official shop, KZTWS.com
annoyingly CastorPro is not there yet.
https://www.kztws.com/products/kz-libra?variant=46657764491515

per PaulWasabi observation and measurement,
tuning is quite alike, tough driver differences shows apparently.

So for the longest time, the Libra was one of my favorite OTG IEMs during the summer, and it went all over with me, including Vegas. Salnotes Zero was one of my favorites for movie watching, and that included the entire season one of Andor, due to it's excellent staging and imaging for a budget set.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

The QuietSea is really a spectacular sounding IEM. The nozzle and shape really suck though lol I would like them to make a follow up to this tuning with a more… universal fit.

If you have Symbio tips, I found those to fix the fit as good as possible tho.

Yeah man. This IEM is plagued by the notorious short nozzle and angle thing that so many otherwise spectacular IEMs got plagued with. I'm using the big black Penon Licquers at the moment, until I can tip roll some more. Gonna try some Spinfit CP100 on them later, and if that works, I'll have to order another set, because they are all spoken for, and I have these new Penon tips incoming by Monday, so those might do the trick too, but yeah, spectacular sound, with wonky fit due to that short nozzle and angle, but the Penon tips work well for them atm.

 

[Ferdinando1968]

MAIL CALL FROM HIFIGO!!!

So had to make sure I could show this since the AFUL was the main attraction, and I didn't want to step on toes, and I'm still "new" at this, but...

Rose Technics/Roseselsa Quiet Sea arrived on the heels of the AFUL P 5+2/7. Thank you to AFUL + Hifigo for providing this opportunity, and for the Pula Anvil as well.

Long story short, these Quiet Sea are UNSUNG!! How in god's green earth did these single DD's sneak past anyone?! They are like a cross between the KZ Saga and the Wyvery Abyss Black, but with better detail retrieval, and stage depth. The stage is a standout. This is something @Jmop would enjoy. Treble is a smidge shy, but think there's enough to keep things interesting, due to the stage width and depth, and the clean but still warmish midrange. Got lost in the Ezra Collective and the N3U with these. My Goodness, I was blessed with two fantastic IEMs this day. Don't have too many left incoming, and this will end up being my slow down, as 1 ) I want to focus on my reviews and my rotation, and not get bogged down 2 ) did I mention these two are fantastic?! Yeah...they are.

Great buy.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

The FIIO FP3 is the company's foray into the planar IEM fray. I bought this at a discounted price from Ali (list price $89 USD).



It is an open secret that most of the current CHIFI planar IEMs use a similar planar driver, probably sourced from the same factories (or are OEMS). In contrast, Fiio markets that the FP3 utilizes an in-house 14.5 mm driver with a dual coated titanium and aluminum ultra-thin diaphragm.

The FP3 contains the TESLA valve bass enhancement tech - seen in the Fiio FD15 - which deliberately elongates sound tubes so as to filter away higher frequencies and boost bass.

Weighing 6.5 g apiece, the housings are light and ergonomics are quite comfortable despite the slightly longer nozzles. The faceplate features a rosewood or black walnut design, depending on your preference during ordering.

It is moderately difficult to drive, and would benefit from a dongle DAC/amp at least. Accessories are quite generous with multiple tips and a transparent plastic carrying case.

The FP3 sports a bright V-shape tonality, graphs below (8 kHz is a coupler peak). Generally, planar graphs may not correspond 1 for 1 to single DDs, as the planar drivers are usually faster in transients and the peaks are more exaggerated on planar graphs compared to actual listening.


The FP3 has a very clean sounding profile, with fast transients and stellar technical chops. Soundstage is wide with excellent layering, detailing and imaging. The bass is quite big but is not at outright basshead levels, with good texturing and speed. Upper mids hit about 11 dB which is just at the border. There is great clarity and resolution in the treble region, with just slight sibilance (I'm treble sensitive and find the FP3 is not overly splashy in the highhats and cymbals, which is much worse in other planars).

There is some planar timbre (probably due to the very fast note transients cutting off tail-end of notes), which is a usual issue with planar IEMs, but it is not the worst offender timbre-wise.

Will do some more tests against benchark planars and report back. For sub $90 USD, this is probably one of the more technical planars as of the time of writing, one for trebleheads and analytical junkies.

Hello mah lady! Oh! You speak my language?! How coincidental! It will be a pleasure getting to know you better.

Unless somehow the Dynaquattro finally pushes me over the edge, this should be my last "done with my own money" IEM purchase in a long while? Sounds like it will be a good one for me?

I got a feeling the EBC80 is gonna be near kilobuck, so probably not gonna PTT on that one until next year, if at all?

 

[Ineras]

Followed up with Fatfreq since my Deuce tracking number is still not found 4 weeks after receiving the shipping notice. I was basically told to please be patient.

 

[Nimweth]

This is a definite ringing endorsement coming from you! But what about thru the B4-X? The AP80 Pro X, tbqf, is my least performing source I own, but definitely great with darker leaning/bassy IEMs.

I have not tried the KE4 through the Little Bear yet. The AP80 Pro X via the OS133 is far superior to the AP80 on its own and there is a good synergy with the KE4. I have tried the MT300 through the B4-X, absolutely fantastic, the treble is superb. I will try the KE4 next and keep you posted.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Still interested in the TD20 because of my initial GREAT impression of the company... the white tiger also sounds amazing... like a Phoenixcall with real bass? As long as the bass isn't too warm or muddy I'll likely enjoy it.

Well...acktuallyyyyyy...the first impression from two folks were pretty much exactly that (not muddy per se, but bloated), so proceed with caution, despite the later about face.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Look at this beautiful DAC/Amp! Stunning!

 

[Ineras]

Well...acktuallyyyyyy...the first impression from two folks were pretty much exactly that (not muddy per se, but bloated), so proceed with caution, despite the later about face.

The later about face from my White Tiger out-the-box impression was due to tip roll and finding synergy with Divinus wide bores thanks to @ToneDeafMonk, which tamed the sub-bass bloat.

I don't really like the Phoenixcall, too spicy and sibilant, very unnatural to my ears.

My only purchases for this sale are an ultra slim power bank for stacking, and a couple sets of the Angelears AE100 tips to test out. 13.8mm diameter for large and shorter stems, might work well for BCD sets that require deep fit for contact.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....order_list.order_list_main.10.42271802kgqnig
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...o.order_list.order_list_main.4.42271802kgqnig

Hiding the wallet for now. Must be patient until EBC80 releases. Will probably pick up Anvil as well.

 

[MakeItWain]

Followed up with Fatfreq since my Deuce tracking number is still not found 4 weeks after receiving the shipping notice. I was basically told to please be patient.

Sorry man. I had my shipping number generated and untrackable for like two weeks before it updated and was on my way. It did get to me eventually but it took a bit of time.

 

[pk4425]

It’s not pushed forward.



Ok, snarky remark aside, it’s more forward than MagicOne. But it’s about the whole mid-midrange being pushed forward (see the hump around 1.25kHz) rather than the upper mid push like Moondrop, Simgot, and other Harman IEM.

You can check my graph database. To my ears, these IEMs sound exactly like how they graph.

Edit: AFUL has never tune 3kHz forward, even with the original P5 which is still the most “harman-like”. All AFUL since explorer is tuned with a “flat top” between around 2.5k to around 6k before slopping down. So I find myself turning the volume up a bit with both explorer and p7 because there is still headroom at the upper mid. The main problem of aful house sound is that they don’t cut the 5-6kHz (a.k.a “sibilant cut”), so if you are sensitive to that region, it can sound a bit uncomfortable.

No sir. The vocals are not too forward in the mix, and the treble is not spicy, peaky, or grainy. Now you can say that about the treble on the Nuo, Dawn MS, or even YuXuan Ji, but not the P7. I'd say the upper mids/lower treble slots in between the PRX and the YuXuan Ji. P7 is special for it's balance, and kinda reminds me of a more resolving H60, with a little less punch, but really balanced from bottom to top.

Thanks to you two and all others who chimed in. I'm feeling relieved. Paul's interpretation of sound with some IEMs doesn't always jive with mine, so I'm glad this appears to be the case with the P5+2.

So i was asked over in a Discord chat to do some comparisons between the Aful P7/P5+2 and the Estrella and DaVinci. I figured some of you cats might also be interested to read them as well so here ya go!

Vs. DaVinci:
The DaVinci has a bigger and fuller bass response with more emphasis on the midbass than the P7. It also is a little bit more energetic with more bass impact and a slightly more forward midrange. In comparison the P7 sounds more balanced but still has a touch of warmth. Both sets have something special in their midrange presentations that really calls to me. The P7 has better separation, timbre, and is a bit more detailed. The soundstage is also a little bit wider and the overall tuning is a little more cohesive, smoother, and cleaner. But man the bolder bass of the DaVinci hits really nicely and is hard to resist. They do sound similar but both have special qualities and sound amazing in their own right. Basically the DaVinci is more fun and engaging with more bass whereas the P7 is slightly more balanced and well rounded.
My pick: Gun to my head? I'm taking the DaVinci but these are both so so good!

Vs. Estrella:
Estrella is more V-shaped and has a bigger bass response, more impact in the midbass, and better extension on both ends. It's also brighter and can be peakier in the treble with a little harshness at times. Its vocal presentation lacks the special sauce when compared to the P7 which has a very natural timbre and a warmer, fuller, and more emotionally moving vocal emphasis. Estrella is more energetic and has a slightly bigger soundstage. It can better handle more complex tracks and has superior separation but it can also come across a bit clinical at times compared to the P7's more musical style. Estrella might have the edge in technical performance but P7 is more balanced, smoother and overall more enjoyable for me.
My pick: Aful P7

Very, very helpful. Thanks!

This sandwich is fast becoming a favorite source chain for me, and is monsterously good!! Really top notch synergy throughout this chain. P7 is an all-arounder, for anyone looking for that type of IEM, that's excellent with many genres, and not a specialist, this is it. It's on the level of the ISN H60 as an all-arounder, and this includes METAL and HARD ROCK. It got me giddy listening to my metal playlist, as many IEMs can do stellar work with jazz, instrumental/orchestral, rock, pop or reggae, but when you ask it to take on heavier and more busy/fast/lo-fi/congested mix tracks, they fall apart really quick. They simply cannot keep up properly. That's why my metal specialists in my rotation are quite low in numbers. AFUL P7 can take it's place alongside the H60, CCA Trio, Tri i3 mk III, and S12 (2024) as a metal specialist and all-arounder. It also synergizes BETTER with the DCE than it does the N3U, but it's not bad with tubes, just sounds better through the DCE for whatever reason?


Hiby R3 II > iBasso DCE > Powerbank > AFUL P 5+2 = 7

F*ck, just take my money for the 5+2.

I grew up listening to almost exclusively 80-90s Christian/folk and classical on the side. Needless to say, I missed out on a lot of music experiences not to mention general pop culture, due to the conservative setting I was in. I love these new audio discoveries even if they’re “dated” lol. They’re new to me!

Quality tunes never age, man. There are certain bands and albums that are timeless. Take Hendrix, for example. A guitar player with his balls, creativity and virtuosity today would turn heads just as Jimi did in 1967.

Penon is famous all over the world. So wait let me get this straight? Giving out coupons is bad? Making increasingly good stuff that out maneuvers the basic competition in sound quality is bad, and confusing?

OK, I'll raise my hand as somewhat of an irrational Penon basher. Unjustified, and I'll chill.

But Penon famous all over the world? I've been into headphones and audio for about 10 years, and I never heard of Penon until I found this thread about a year ago. Penon certainly isn't Sony, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica or Beyerdynamic. Famous in the niche of IEMs, yes.

Still, bottom line: I'll ease off Penon even though I think some of its marketing practices are goofy. But you cats are right: The sound, products and service are what matter most. Penon is not some Ponzi multilevel marketing scheme like Amway, and some of the criticism here -- including from me -- depicts it as such. Unfair. Sorry.

Somewhat inconveniently, this DynaQuattro is creeping up my wants list once more.

Damn it. The DQ was my No. 1 target for 11.11 until the Performer 5+2 was hatched. Now I'm truly torn, as I don't want to buy two $230-ish IEMs. Just one.

Timbre and tonality: 5/5 - Very Good

OK, if 5/5 is only Very Good, what is Great?

Extremely off-topic.

Google is filled with genius-level minds, so far be it from this Mayor of Simpleton to criticize, but Google would get a hell of a lot more YouTube Music subscriptions if it bundled YT Premium with it. Google did that with Google Play Music -- I was a subscriber until around 2015-16, or so -- yet didn't with YT Music. Has that changed?

It's not a clone...it's fake!! I was f...d for real!
The seller (she) was from Belgium, allegedly.
I should have known better after being a fan of "In Bruges" that I should avoid anything related to Belgium.


I got a legit box and everything in it. It's amazing how well everything is done. All the effort deserves some reward hahaha.

Cheers!

"In Bruges" is one of the best movies that few have seen. Wonderful film. Closet classic!