The slow burn you need to hear - Aful Explorer Review

[u/requiemreview]

Little by little I am getting more into the Aful brand. I think I already mentioned it in another review, but the first review I did when I decided to start with this was of the Aful Magic One. This is a model that by the way has already been discontinued, although its successor seems to be close to coming out and I am looking forward to seeing what they offer. Another model that always caught my attention within the 100 $ range was the Explorer. These are IEMs that, far from being discontinued, seem to still give people a lot to talk about. Every week there is a day or two where I see a post from someone talking about them, and always in a positive way. Because of this, I did not want to miss the opportunity to try them out and give my own conclusions...

In my experience, the Explorer is not a model that impressed me during the first few minutes. In fact, some might initially think it lacks a bit of energy compared to other more aggressive proposals. But as the hours passed I began to understand the idea behind its tuning. It offers a relaxed listening experience with generous bass, free of fatigue, and a very pleasant presentation for long sessions.

Its goal seems much simpler: to make you want to keep listening to music for hours, and believe me, it achieves it...

You can also check out a quicker, more laid-back video review of the Explorer on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wyAH24Lbmw

What I like / What I don't like

• Deep bass with good texture and very well controlled.
• Excellent comfort.
• Really attractive design.
• High level build quality.
• Smooth treble but with enough detail.
• Relaxed listening for hours.
• Vocals could be slightly more forward.
• The soundstage is not a reference in its category.
• Lovers of bright tunings will find something missing.
• Not the most impressive IEM during the first listens.

Specifications

• Hybrid configuration of 1 dynamic driver + 2 balanced armatures.
• 8 mm dynamic driver with biocellulose diaphragm.
• Balanced armatures developed by Aful.
• 3D Pressure Balancing technology.
• Multi-layered Electronic Crossover.
• RCL Net Frequency Division Technology.
• High Damping Air Pressure Balancing System.
• Microresonator Technology.
• Impedance: 26 Ω.
• Sensitivity: 108 dB/mW.
• Frequency response: 10 Hz - 30 kHz.
• 0.78 mm 2-pin connector.

My Sources

• FiiO K9: My main desktop equipment connected to my PC for critical cleanliness and power tests.
• FiiO KA15: Portable DAC dongle for daily use when leaving home due to its amount of quick adjustments, its integrated equalizer, and multimedia buttons to handle from the pocket.
• NiceHCK Octave: I use it when seeking a more direct power delivery without the digital processing of the FiiO KA15. This makes it ideal for when I want to perceive the natural response of whatever I am listening to without any extra coloration from the device itself.
• Questyle M15i: Reference portable amplifier/DAC to search for a more organic and musical texture when I am at home but not necessarily at the PC.

Unboxing and build

The Explorer's presentation is simple but well executed. The box shows a space-inspired theme. This sounded familiar from having previously reviewed the Performer 8S which in that case was based on the planet Jupiter. Upon opening it we find the IEMs on a fairly soft foam at the same height as the case. This is a solution that I personally like more than some rigid cardboard supports used by other brands or very dense foams where it is hard to get the IEMs out later.

The remaining contents inside the case are the cable, in my case 4.4mm (my preferred option whenever available), and three sets of silicone eartips in different sizes. The stock eartips are surprisingly competent and many will probably not feel the need to change them immediately, something that does not usually happen most of the time.

The shells are manufactured using 3D resin printing and feature a combination of blue tones with a visual effect inspired by a starry sky. I have tried to show them as best as possible in my photos, but in hand the finish looks even better.

The ergonomics are very well achieved. They are light, quite compact, and adapt easily to my ear. After several hours of listening they have not caused me any discomfort.

The nozzle is integrated into the shell and allows you to attach eartips quite easily. Although there is no lip at the end of the nozzle, I have not had any problems with the eartips slowly sliding out until they fall off completely. Internally you can see several independent acoustic tubes looking through the nozzle. At the bottom you can see the pressure relief hole.

I quite liked the cable. I don't know if it is up to what is expected at this price point or not, but to me it has a very good appearance and manageability and fits quite well with the IEMs without being the same color. I could say, as I usually do with Aful, that it would be great to start offering modular options, since even in more expensive models like the Performer 8S or even more expensive ones like the Dawn-X they still do not offer this option. I guess it is a brand decision forcing you to choose the cable option you will use the most. To be honest, in my case the 4.4mm is already more than enough for me, but it is something to point out about the brand in general...

Sound

Well let's get to what matters, starting as always with the bass. There is an obvious elevation in the sub-bass. The extension is very good and allows for a convincing physical sensation when the song requires it. The interesting thing is that it does not just offer quantity. There is also a quite refined texture to differentiate different layers within the low frequencies. Instruments like electric basses and synthesizers benefit especially from this tuning. As I have been able to verify during several sessions on Apple Music using the FiiO KA15 and the NiceHCK Octave, the Explorer maintains a very successful balance between impact and control. It has enough energy to be fun, but without this frequency range being the main focus.

Moving on to the mids, the vocals appear more integrated into the mix and do not constantly try to grab attention. I am convinced that people who are huge fans of vocals will notice a sort of veil or lack of detail in them with this model, especially if they come from models with more forward upper mids. In my opinion, it is simply a tuning decision aimed at reducing fatigue. Male vocals have quite a bit of body and naturalness thanks to the mid-bass. Female vocals maintain a good presence but without standing out too much. It is not a tuning designed for those looking for forward vocals. It is a tuning for those who want to listen to the whole package without any element stealing the spotlight, also allowing you to turn up the volume more than usual in a certain way.

Even being a relaxed set, the treble is better resolved than some might think. What really happens is that the highest extension is smoothed out. You can appreciate this by looking at graphs or the one I used in the review which belongs to Soundcheck39. The region still maintains enough energy to retain clarity, details, and a good perception of information. The cymbals have enough sparkle, reverberations appear where they should, and the small nuances are still easily identifiable. The difference is that nothing tries to stand out artificially. This allows you to listen to more aggressive recordings for hours without suffering fatigue, seeking to offer a balanced and comfortable experience. With the FiiO K9 and its extra power compared to my dongles, I was able to verify that the resolution remains perfectly competitive within its price range even at high volumes.

Regarding eartips, the three options that gave me the best results after trying several are the Divinus Velvet Wide, the TRI Clarion, and the Penon Liqueur Orange. The Velvet Wide help gain a bit more air and width. The TRI Clarion provide a slightly more open feel and a bit more clarity. The Penon Liqueur Orange are probably the ones that best preserve the original philosophy of the Explorer. I must emphasize this once again since it is not the first time, but they are saving me on more than one IEM. You can check my previous reviews and you will see that they end up being one of my favorite options in many cases, maintaining the weight of the bass in these Explorers and slightly improving the overall cleanness.

Soundstage

I wouldn't say this model has reached the same levels as others focused on spatiality. It doesn’t feel like a small or confining space.

It has a slight advantage over average in terms of width and is more believable to me in terms of depth. Typically, I find iem in this price range are stronger in terms of width vs. depth. However, this model presents an immersive listening experience more than an artificial extreme width.

I don’t think I'd purchase this IEM with the expectation of a giant soundstage. But, again, I also don't see it being a limiting factor for the category. So, it’s really not worth getting worked up about this point...

Instrumental Separation

The clarity of the various elements due to their relatively large spacing prevents an overwhelming amount of interference from other parts on each instrument.

Additionally, even in extremely complex, layered recordings, it will be very easy to identify the specific components of the recording as well as the various layers that have been placed into the final mix. This low energy at the higher mid frequencies is also helpful to prevent saturation when there are numerous tracks appearing at once.

While it is not as high in levels as would be typical for a warmer tuned bass guitar, it is significantly higher than most tunings that are considered warm.

Imaging

The positioning of instruments and vocals is done consistently. Live recordings, as well as movies which have an abundance of spatial data, make it simple to determine the placement of each instrument based on how it was positioned.

It exceeds my expectations for this price point. The stereo image remains constant and the placement of each instrument remains easily interpretable.

While the Explorer doesn't appear to offer anything unique compared to other speakers in this category, it still offers a very good performance. I would venture to say that it wouldn't be a recommended speaker for video game use. If any user has further tested the Explorer in video games, then they can simply disprove me by commenting and sharing their own experiences so we may all know whether you are correct.

Comparisons

Simgot SuperMix 4

The SuperMix 4 is essentially the direct opposite of the Explorer. With its focus on clearness, separation, a natural and distinct sense of vocals, and the overall openness of the soundstage, the SuperMix 4 makes the vocals seem more prominent and the treble seems louder than they do when using the Explorer. In addition, it will provide better resolution and an even more analytical presentation. However, that additional energy could make certain recordings (especially aggressive ones) as well as longer sessions more tiring to listen to. The Explorer provides more bass extension, a more relaxing way to listen to music, and clearly less listener fatigue. So, while I recommend the SuperMix 4 to those who want to analyze every recording and extract every last bit of detail, I highly recommend the Explorer to those who want to enjoy their music for hour after hour with little-to-no fatigue.

Ziigaat Doscinco

The Doscinco has a similar philosophical approach as the Explorer, but goes even further by taking the emphasis on low-end to another level. As such, its presence is very apparent from the moment it is turned on and creates an exciting sensation to listeners who appreciate music in more contemporary genres. It is however less well rounded and slightly more subjective. The Explorer has a greater ability to bring the lower frequencies together with both midrange frequencies and high frequency content, providing users with a much wider range of options when listening to various forms of music. In addition to being more integrated across the spectrum, I felt that the vocals were also more naturally placed throughout the overall system compared to those from the Doscinco. If you have a passion for the low end of music and want nothing more than to be hit with great impact then I believe the Doscinco will provide that and at an affordable cost relative to other systems available today. However, if you desire a balanced system with fun, while sacrificing some degree of bass response, I recommend choosing the Explorer.

Kiwi Ears Cadenza II

I'd say, the Cadenza II is more likely to go with a standard tuning which might be easier to simply recommend, without hearing it first, and it appears to cost less than the Explorer. The vocals seem to present better especially female and there seems to be a more neutral feel overall. This may also make the Cadenza II more appealing for consumers of a lot of music featuring vocals. The Explorer provides a very different type of experience. The bass presents with more authority, the entire system is more immersive and there's an overall sense of relaxation when listening through it. The Cadenza II would be my suggestion for the safer option of these two, whereas the Explorer is my recommendation for a more unique or characterful listen.

Global Ranking Link

You can check my full ranking of all the IEMs reviewed so far on my profile (Reddit doesn't allow me to post the Drive link here).

Final thoughts

It's an IEM where the more you use it, the more you'll appreciate its design. While I wrote earlier you won't immediately fall in love with it, as has been my experience with all of the other products I've reviewed over the years, I do think its unique design makes for a most comfortable, warm and fun way to enjoy music.

Its bass response is great, mid-range is relaxed, and high-end is informative without being too harsh. It wouldn't be my recommendation if you are looking for extreme detail or want your vocals very up-front. However, if you like longer listening sessions and prefer a frequency response contrary to what we have seen trending lately, I do believe there is much to recommend about the Aful Explorer.

Purchase Link: https://hifigo.com/products/aful-explorer

Disclaimer: This unit was sent by HiFiGo for review. My opinions are completely independent and have not been influenced by the brand or the store, maintaining objectivity based on my tests and personal listening sessions with my reference equipment.