I've had a chance to A/B the Olina SE vs. the AFUL Performer5.
i'm not sure what I expected. Sometimes pricing influences our expectations.... here we have two IEMs, both heavily hyped, heavily reviewed, and heavily rec'd. I studied the graphs, from various different sources. Compared Olina SE graph to P5. Listened to samples on Dan's reviews. One $99, one $190 (current street price).
What I expected I suppose was a slightly more open, slightly more detailed, slightly more upper midband relaxed Olina SE.
Sort of, but not. the P5 isn't more open, it isn't more detailed, but it is more relaxed in the upper midband... but too relaxed.
In comparison, the Olina SE shows me better:
- Bass texture and nuance
- Midbass that does appear to bleed into vocals, male or female
They both have good midband detail and sense of correct tonality... unless you take into account slightly muddy lower register of male vocals in the P5, which by definition isn't correct tonality.
The P5 has more treble energy, but it feels to me it is trying to make up for the 2k-5k being slightly less energetic than it ought to be to keep up with and balance its midbass energy. The treble detail is the same for both, though the Olina SE's is more subtle... or less distracting is how I think of it.
i suppose in the end I'm surprised. But also pleased that a $99 IEM can deliver on so many levels, a rare affordable IEM that does everything well out of any source.
I am biased though. I consider the reproduction of vocals and other midband frequencies to be the one thing an IEM has to get right, before anything else. The Olina SE does so, the P5 doesn't.
Fpr my taste, I think the next quality level for me might be the Hype 2. It presents vocals a little more prominently than the P5 does. But really, I've come to appreciate what the Olina SE does that I'm not in any hurry to find something "better".