AFUL PERFORMER 5: PROSPER AND BOLDNESS

“Much effort, much prosperity.” 

–Euripides, Greek Playwright, One of the fathers of classical tragedian dramas.

So how does that quote connect to the AFUL Acoustics itself? Well, AFUL is a Chinese word for prosperity and can be also translated into the word "affluence" as AFUL Acoustics wants their company to prosper in the midst of a very competitive audio market.

AFUL Acoustics was established in 2018 and under its portfolio they already have substantial numbers of patents and proprietary technology called RLC Network Frequency Division Correction Technology. Here are some of its principle based on my understanding, drivers has its own distinct frequency response and AFUL put these drivers into a PCB with some complex circuitry. And with this technology, it eases and rectifies the frequency band response of each driver to have a more accurate and gives a well-segmented and smoother frequency response to lessen the occurrences of distortion that might cause some unwanted peaks and inconsistencies. This tech actually piques my interest on how it will benefit the overall listening experience.

With some of their patented technologies, AFUL Acoustic released their first product for the international market, The AFUL Performer 5. Performer 5 is a hybrid driver IEM consisting of 1 dynamic driver and 4 custom balanced armature. Dynamic driver handles the bass response while the 2 BAs probably handles midbass to midrange frequencies then the remaining BAs handle the high and ultra high frequencies. All these drivers are implemented on a RLC tech frequency divider PCB.

The internals are enclosed in a medical-grade resin shell moulded via 3D printing by EnvisionTec and it has acoustic tube channels for its specific frequency range from the drivers and there is also a special air pressure vent to give a deeper and more slam on the low frequency. It has a copper- orange coloured  face plate that reminds me of a colourway of planet Jupiter, then slanted brand logo at bottom. Performance 5 takes a more conventional UIEM shape with stabilising fin which is a proven design as it rests well in my concha. Good thing that AFUL decided to use a standard 2-pin connector which is a more logical choice for easing cable swapping.

When it comes to fitting and comfort, Performer 5 is probably one of the best as it perfectly snugs well into my lug holes without issues as I can wear them for a long listening session. It also has a good passive isolation as it manages to block some external noises from the outside.

Regarding on its product packaging, AFUL did a laudable decision to make the unboxing experience on the Performer 5 is quite very satisfying. The packaging box is of medium size with an illustration of the product at the front and basic specifications and some QR codes on their social media pages at back. It has substantial included accessories and here are the following contents:

■ Pair of AFUL Performer 5 IEMs.

■ A thick 8-core Bi-coloured OFC SPC cable with a 3.5mm termination plug.

■ 3 pairs of narrow-bored ear tips of different standard sizes.

■ 3 pairs of wide-bored ear tips of different standard sizes.

■ Round-shaped metal IEM case.

■ Some paperwork like instruction manual and QC/Warranty card.

■ a makeshift IEM stand.

Despite being a multi-driver IEM, Performer 5 is an easy to drive set that amplifies well on multimedia devices like smartphones and tablets which has decent power output that delivers an impressive level of amplitude and full range dynamic sound.

As for tonality, AFUL Performer 5 has a mild U-shaped sound signature as it has more emphasis on bass and treble with substantial textured midrange. It is more leaning on being balanced-warmish sounding.

Here's my observations on its overall sound characteristics within its sonic spectrum.

LOWS/BASS:

Performer 5 has a sufficient punchiness and decent slam but it is somehow lacking in depth and texture especially for a dynamic driver but at least both sub bass and mid bass are balanced and evenly distributed.

On sub bass, it has a satisfying rumble and reverb when I played some tracks with electronic drums, synthesisers and low tone bass guitar. As I mentioned previously regarding its inadequate texture, it really affects the sound characteristics of the mid bass subjects such as bass guitars, bass drum kicks and bass-baritone vocals. Bass guitars have a rasping and sustaining sound but it's a tad hollow in my ears, bass drum kicks have that enough thudding and resonant sounding but on a duller side. Bass vocals seems less dark, less guttural as it quite too smooth and mellow on my liking but there are some low baritones vocals especially the lyrical ones has a decent authority and rather light sounding.

Certainly that this type of bass quality will not satisfy overly bass heads out there. Even a non-bass head listener like me thinks that the bass on this one is rather a peculiar case.

MIDRANGE:

Performer 5's midrange seems to have a balanced texture, a hint of warmth, sufficient clarity and at least clean sounding. As for vocal qualities of both gender, due to small amount of warmth, male vocals has an ample texture as it gives a smooth and flexibility on some baritone-level vocals, a rather weak and soft on countertenors when they belting out some falsettos (take note on Gackt's vocal on Au Revoir track) and a rather warmer , lighter and ringy take on tenor as it isn't that robust and rich as I listen on Pavarotti and the three tenors but Freddie Mercury (even he is baritone but he can reach tenor) and Prince on portrayal of their respective vocal prowess seems perform pretty well.  Female vocals on Performance 5 are indeed expressive and captivating as I point out on different vocal types. Contralto  vocal type on which majority of modern pop singers are usually dwell on this level, has a warmer, smokey and lilting sound with likes of Annie Lennox and Karen Carpenter while rarer dramatic contralto like Tracy Chapman has a distinct huskiness and darker tone. On mezzo-sopranos, it has a velvety and luscious sound that is mesmerising like Andrea Corr and Dolores O' Riordan of The Cranberries. And last ones were sopranos, lyrical sopranos like Alison Krauss has this angelic and captivating vocals while Tarja has the fuller range, provocative and energetic sound. Coloratura soprano ones seem to perform well as they have shimmering, light and crystalline vocals like Diana Damrau but there are some issues that I will point out later.

Instruments like strings and woodwinds are more prominent on this one as it gives a more crisp and lingering sound on both acoustic and electric guitars, a metallic and a tad shrilly on violins. On woodwinds, saxophones do have brilliant and reedy sound while flutes seem to have a penetrating and also brilliant sound too. Brass instruments like trombone and trumpets, the prior instrument has this intensity and eruptive sound then a shrilly and a tad vivid on the latter one. As for percussives, tom drums sound sort of having this hard hitting and a bit boomy characteristic, Snare drums have the penetrating and sharp sounds on every strike and pianos seems to have a vibrant and warmer sound though it occurs sometimes that it has a brighter tone, which is quite too exaggerated sounding.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

This actually gives me some deeper thoughts on how I would describe the treble quality of Performer 5. There's an elevation on the upper-mids which give a sufficiency of sheen and sparkle to exhibit details  but due to that BA timbre that I noticed immediately, It overemphasises the timbre of some instruments and vocals especially on sopranos that sound too excessive that cause the blaringly sounding and dissonant in my hearing. And then a perceivable fine depression to sound a bit smoothen and even out some jarring and peaks which probably lessens the sibilance which is remarkable enough.

It gives a sufficient shimmer and sizzle on cymbals and a shortened dull sound of hi-hats to have that distinct "chick" sound. It is noted that it has fairly airy extension on its brilliance region with ample amount of harmonics.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING & OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

Its overall soundstage dimensions are rather average but wide bore will help it at least to improve and deliver an above average on wideness but still not spacious enough. It has decent height reach and good depth though that it gives at least a decent head room.

The imaging aspect of this set is quite impressive as it gives me a 3D-like spatiality in which I am able to pinpoint the placements of instruments and vocals. It has good separation of the elements and finer distinction on layering capability either frequency or individual dynamics layering with its sonic canvas.

For resolution capability, it certainly have a substantial texture on macro-dynamics and a good micro-detail retrieval as I was able to pick up some subtleties and nuances of data and it clearly has a sharp and edgy definition that will please the ears of detail lovers.

Coherency-wise, it is rather mundane as the dynamic driver seems a tad less nimble that doesn't suit well with the high performance of its BAs, it doesn't mean that it has slow response and transients as it has moderate speed but it will not give that cohesive performance to make it a spectacular one. As for tonal colour, it does have this BA timbre that it exhibits a metallic sound that gives a bit less natural tonality.

PEER COMPARISONS:

See Audio Yume Midnight

■ Both have similar profiles, from being a hybrid driver set to product packaging. Yume Midnight has a carbon-fibre aesthetic on its face plate and it uses a proven and more premium Knowles balanced armature on its internals while Performer 5 uses an unspecified model of balanced armatures.

■ As for sound signatures of each device, they are quite contrasting in one another, Yume Midnight takes a more balanced-neutral sound profile while Performer 5 is more of a mild-U shaped sound. Compared to Performer 5, it has a tad leaner texture but it has more solid bass, a more neutral and cleaner midrange and more refinement of treble.

■ As for the technical aspect, Yume Midnight apparently has a wider staging and is a bit spacious. It also has an immersive 3D like spatial imaging and superb separation and fine layering of frequencies and distinct dynamics of elements like Performer 5 though its has better coherency and less BA timbre

LETSHUOER X Gizaudio: Galileo

■ Galileo has a similar implementation on its transducers but has a lone BA driver compared to 4's on Performer 5. The said Olone BA driver on Galileo is a full range sounding and more premium one, Sonion. Both have an appealing and beautiful aesthetic resin shells and product presentation with its inclusions are on par.

■ Regarding its tonality, Galileo has a balanced-neutral sound profile that has outstanding midrange quality in its class as it is transparent, clean and textured. It has a more refined bass response but it has a lack of treble air compared to Performer 5. Somehow it has a noticeable smoother treble too.

■ Technicalities are rather interesting on this one as they are quite a reverse, Galileo has a better soundstage dimensions as it is more spacious but less impressive layering definition while Performance 5 has a narrower soundstage and yet a more impressive separation and layering. Timbre is more refined on Galileo as it doesn't have a BA timbre and sounds more organic.

The surprising year-end release of AFUL Performer 5 took the global portable audio community by storm with its beautifully-crafted and well-built IEM with some reviewers attesting to its well-balanced tuning and performance that punches above its price.

For me as an amateur portable audio reviewer that also favours either all-BA sets or hybrid driver set-up IEMs and also possesses a considerable collection of IEMs with the said set-up. I even tested some of the best mid rangers and TOTLs IEMs on a hybrid driver set-up form factor in the past that I can certainly rationalise my statement on my fair assessment and constructive critique on the AFUL Performer 5.

Performer 5 has a lot of potential to be the best IEM within its price range but those inherent issues like BA timbre, uneven upper mids to presence treble that need some refinement and in most cases, a confined sound/speaker stage will be its weakest points that hinders its overall performance. If AFUL Acoustics manage to rectify these issues on the next batch or in a modified variant. It will be probably the best product in its price segment and will also punch above its price that even more expensive sets will tremble.

Another thing is if you came from an under US$100 IEM with just ordinary and mediocre tuning with underwhelming technical capabilities, will Performer 5 be considered to be an upgrade on those ear gears? For me, it's affirmative in most cases.

AFUL Performer 5 is now available at HIFIGO. If you are interested in purchasing this set, Just click the link below, I can rest assured that it's not an affiliated link.

◆◆ AFUL PERFORMER 5 - HIFIGO ◆◆

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: AFUL PERFORMER 5

IMPEDANCE: 35Ω

SENSITIVITY: 110dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE:  5Hz – 35KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M

PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78MM)

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm

DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER + (4) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVERS

PROS:

△ Very eye-pleasing and aesthetically gorgeous design on its face plate.

△ Certainly has the best ergonomically UIEM-style shell with smooth contours as it perfectly fits in my lug holes.

△ Amplifies well even on devices with decent power output.

△ Remarkable passive isolation

△ Well-textured and decent clean midrange.

△ Equally balanced distribution of sub bass and midbass.

△ Impressive separation and layering capability.

△ 3-D and holographic-like spatial imaging.

CONS:

▽ BA timbre, this is really my top concern on this set as it occasionally sounds metallic and tinny.

▽ Wishing for better proportion on its soundstage as it is quite average.

▽ Upper-mids needs some tuning refinement.

Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *

Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **

Mountain - Mississippi Queen *

Queen - Killer Queen **

Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*

Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'

Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'

Pearl Jam - Daughter **

Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *

Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*

Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *

New Order - Blue Monday *

The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *

The Madness- Buggy Trousers *

Metallica - Motorbreath **

Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *

Destiny's Child - Say My Name *

Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *

Mozart - Lacrimosa *

New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*

Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *

Exciter - Violence and Force *

Diana Krall - Stop This World **

Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*

The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**

Suzanne Vega – Luka **

Lauren Christy – Steep *

Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *

Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte

P.S.

I am not affiliated to AFUL ACOUSTICS nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to HIFIGO especially to MS. YUMU SONG and MS. LVY YAN. And I also say thanks to NEIL NIÑO CLARK for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.