Firstly I would like to thank Mark at Hifiheadphones for lending me these, They have been fully burnt in and I will try and write an honest review.
Gear Used:
iPod Classic > ASG-1 Plus (XS tips)
Dell XPS15 > Oppo HA-2 > ASG-1 Plus (XS tips)
Tech Specs:
Driver: Precision Dynamic 14.2mm + 1 custom-tuned, next generation tweeter
Frequency response: 8Hz – 25kHz
Impedance: 11 ohm +/- 10% @ 1kHz
Sensitivity: 120dB @1mW
Passive noise attenuation: NRR 24db
Construction: 3D printed, Digital Hybrid Technology (DHT)™ shell fits 95% of ears like a custom (Hybrid custom/universal fit derived from thousands of ears scanned… and counting).
Cable: Detachable silver-plated low oxygen copper cable
MSRP: $499
Packaging, Accessories and Build Quality:
The packaging is fairly simple and nothing luxurious, it keeps the size and weight down but I would like to see a little more luxury at this price point. The IEM’s are securely kept in place in a card cutout, the carry case is stored below and all the accessories are found in the carry case. The packaging really doesn’t stand out but does its job of protecting the IEM’s during shipping. There is a window on the back showing off the IEM’s and tech specs can be found on the side.
Accessories are good but again nothing over the top. You get a small case like Westone use, but the ASG-1 Plus don’t fit very well inside the case unfortunately, detaching the cables is the best way of getting them to fit which is a little awkward. The included tips are good, they are very rubbery but provide a good seal and comfort. Only single flange tips are included (XS, S, M, L and XL), along with a wax cleaning tool. I would have liked to see some Bi-flange tips and maybe some Comply tips, The T-500 series fit these. Overall enough accessories, and everyone should be able to get a good fit with the provided tips, but I would have liked to see a few more added bits.
Build quality is good, they are excellently made with quality plastics and I cannot find any weak points. They use a standard 2-pin connector, which feels sturdy and the supplied cable is similar to most custom monitors cable, slim and supple, with good strain relief. It should hold up fine, and it is easily replaceable. I cannot see these failing any time soon.
Comfort, Isolation and Cable noise:
The comfort is good, they say they fit like a CIEM, and I can say they are very comfortable but they do stick out a little when in your ears so you won’t be sleeping with these in. But with the correct tips I find them to stay in my ears very well and comfortably over long periods of time. For even more comfort I recommend Comply tips, although the stock tips were fine for most usage.
Isolation is excellent with the supplied tips, they block out a lot of external noise and you do have to be careful when out and about using these. Great for daily commutes and airplane journeys.
Cable noise is not really an issue as the cable goes behind your ear, which reduces most cable noise.
Sound:
Lows: Well Aurisonics are well known for their deep and impactful lows, and these are no exception. Being a hybrid IEM, the dynamic driver takes care of the lows with great results. The lows extend with ease handling dubstep and the like with no problems. The lows are also very full and give the sound a very nice body, albeit a little too much for my tastes. They don’t bleed in to the mids, but they sometimes sound a little bloated and do take centre stage. Definitely a fun sound to listen to, and they will satisfy all but the most hardcore bass heads. The lows do however keep in control and the speed is quite good, they do manage to keep up with fast music, yet still reproduce the low reverberation of a double bass with ease. Quite versatile lows, with very good presence and quantity, if you want neutral, look elsewhere.
Mids: The mids cut through the mix quite nicely, without coming across too full bodied. Both male and female vocals cut through with detail and clarity whilst the lows back them up with body. The mids don’t suffer from sibilance or harshness, and are not in any way fatiguing. The mids can bring out emotion is an singers voice, they are very intimate and engaging. They do well with most genres and do well on intimate acoustic recordings.
Highs: The highs have enough detail and sparkle to prevent these from sounding overly dark, they are always present and I really like their presentation. They don’t take a back seat, they are up front with the rest of the music, letting you hear every tap and crash without becoming overbearing and painful. I like the amount of highs they have, as they are always there providing detail and clarity to an otherwise dark sounding IEM.
The soundstage on these is not huge, these definitely give a more intimate presentation which means they are more fun and engaging to listen to, great for commuting and sports use. Instrument separation is good, everything is nicely separated, but these have quite a thick sound so there is not a lot of air between everything.
Conclusion:
Well these are not cheap, but that’s not to say they are not worth the price. They are definitely targeted more to the audiophiles who like their bass. You can get a nice neutral sounding CIEM for this price, but for bassy yet detailed IEM’s there is not a lot out there. And that is who Aurisonics cater for. These provide the thump and power without sacrificing the mids and highs, and at that they do remarkably well. It is not the sound I usually look for, but for those that want extra bass these are superb. I cannot think of any other headphones that give this bass performance, with this amount of clarity in the mids and highs also. So there you have it, perfect for those that enjoy this sound signature, I would just like to see some extra accessories added in, the fit could be slightly better too.
Sound Perfection Rating: 8/10 (big thumping lows, crisp mids and sparkly highs)
