First Impressions: AAW x Shozy POLA & AAW AXH Holiday Edition (Retuned)
AAW seems to enjoy a pretty good reputation in Japan. While I wasn't a fan of their new releases, I decided to give these 2 new releases a shot. The AXH Holiday isn't a new release, it was first released in 2017 but are only for sale during special occasions. Not sure if it's meant for only Christmas! Anyway, here are some of my thoughts.
The AAW x Shozy POLA is one of the oddest signatures I've tried so far. I do think that the type of sound the POLA is going for is interesting - a sophisticated warmth with forward vocals. It does remind me of the Empire Ears Phantom a little bit. Concept is one thing but the execution is another - the POLA uses a graphine driver + an estat driver. Estats are still relatively new in the market in terms of using it in a hybrid setup.
I would describe the sound as warm, veiled, muddy and slightly dark. Yet the treble seems to peak quite a lot - I'm not sure whether to describe it as dark anymore. Vocals sound "off" (cant quite place my finger on it, but it might be presence). The bass is pretty decent through, with a slightly boosted midbass and some subbass extension. Yet when you hear the laidback low end of its driver, you are greeted with its energetic highs...things don't seem to meld. The treble does sound disjointed to me. EE's Phantom on the other hand, takes a more refined approach where the treble is as laid back as it's bass.
Do note that the POLA is quite a tough nut to drive. My impressions may change when I use a more powerful source, preferably an external amp.
Now on to the AAW AXH Holiday Edition. Some of you might be familiar with the standard AAW AXH. The standard AXH features the use of a DD + 4 BAs and is pretty darn bright (not sure if they have been retuned as well, AAW makes silent revisions). It has a very tall 7k peak which gives it a ton of clarity but it makes brighter instruments piercing. Cymbals are very tough to listen to.
I initially thought that the AXH Holiday Edition is the standard AXH with a different shell, but it is in fact a retuning. The Holiday has a warmer tone with more bass and perhaps lesser highs (not sure if they balanced it out with more bass or reduced the highs, maybe both). It turned into a v-shaped monitor that is pretty darn nice for rock. It does remind me of the Canal Works U77, but with better lows since it uses a DD. The U77 has more of a japanese tuning with its sweet upper midrange while the Holiday carries a more warm tone and its upper midrange isnt quite as sweet. I'd say the Holiday is better suited for english rock. That said, it does lack a bit of stage depth and height. Width is ok for me. Imaging is sharp like the standard AXH.
Vocals might also be sibilant for some. A lot of pronounced "s" and "t" with higher pitched vocalists. I don't get that with the U77. As such I recommend trying this one out before purchase - the sibilance may not sit right with you.
AAW seems to enjoy a pretty good reputation in Japan. While I wasn't a fan of their new releases, I decided to give these 2 new releases a shot. The AXH Holiday isn't a new release, it was first released in 2017 but are only for sale during special occasions. Not sure if it's meant for only Christmas! Anyway, here are some of my thoughts.
The AAW x Shozy POLA is one of the oddest signatures I've tried so far. I do think that the type of sound the POLA is going for is interesting - a sophisticated warmth with forward vocals. It does remind me of the Empire Ears Phantom a little bit. Concept is one thing but the execution is another - the POLA uses a graphine driver + an estat driver. Estats are still relatively new in the market in terms of using it in a hybrid setup.
I would describe the sound as warm, veiled, muddy and slightly dark. Yet the treble seems to peak quite a lot - I'm not sure whether to describe it as dark anymore. Vocals sound "off" (cant quite place my finger on it, but it might be presence). The bass is pretty decent through, with a slightly boosted midbass and some subbass extension. Yet when you hear the laidback low end of its driver, you are greeted with its energetic highs...things don't seem to meld. The treble does sound disjointed to me. EE's Phantom on the other hand, takes a more refined approach where the treble is as laid back as it's bass.
Do note that the POLA is quite a tough nut to drive. My impressions may change when I use a more powerful source, preferably an external amp.
Now on to the AAW AXH Holiday Edition. Some of you might be familiar with the standard AAW AXH. The standard AXH features the use of a DD + 4 BAs and is pretty darn bright (not sure if they have been retuned as well, AAW makes silent revisions). It has a very tall 7k peak which gives it a ton of clarity but it makes brighter instruments piercing. Cymbals are very tough to listen to.
I initially thought that the AXH Holiday Edition is the standard AXH with a different shell, but it is in fact a retuning. The Holiday has a warmer tone with more bass and perhaps lesser highs (not sure if they balanced it out with more bass or reduced the highs, maybe both). It turned into a v-shaped monitor that is pretty darn nice for rock. It does remind me of the Canal Works U77, but with better lows since it uses a DD. The U77 has more of a japanese tuning with its sweet upper midrange while the Holiday carries a more warm tone and its upper midrange isnt quite as sweet. I'd say the Holiday is better suited for english rock. That said, it does lack a bit of stage depth and height. Width is ok for me. Imaging is sharp like the standard AXH.
Vocals might also be sibilant for some. A lot of pronounced "s" and "t" with higher pitched vocalists. I don't get that with the U77. As such I recommend trying this one out before purchase - the sibilance may not sit right with you.
