After launching three highly tuned IEMs, including the Performer 8, Performer 5, and MagicOne, Aful takes a different approach to tuning. This time it's warm, melodious, and treble-safe. During development, they dubbed it Performer 3 since it had three driver configurations: one DD and two BA. However, in their formal announcement, they call it 'Explorer'. Aful's approach to new experiments is not novel; they demonstrated this by introducing MagicOne, an IEM with a single BA driver, and their proprietary acoustic chamber. This time with Explorer, they explored with a warm balanced tone that reflected the current trend in the chi-fi IEM industry. To establish the sound character, they use a DD for bass and lower frequencies, as well as two self-developed BAs, one for mids and another for treble. Will they stand out in the present crowded IEM market, or will they simply be another IEM to wear? Let's go through Aful Explorer review to see what AFUL has to offer with this package.
For your information, I am an avid Aful fan. I adore their stunning IEMs with amazing sound quality. So when they introduced a new IEM titled ‘Performer 3’, I was eager to try it. I made the choice to buy it after listening to just one song. The pleasant tone is so satisfying and relaxing, and it sounds quite laid-back. I’m not a usual basshead; instead, I’m a warm-head and treble-sensitive man. That’s why Explorer sounds so delightful and safe to my ears.
I tested the Aful Explorer using my favorite DAP, the Cowon Planue R2, and was amazed by how well it performed. My Hip Dac 2 provides some warmth and body to the bass region, while my Moondrop Down Pro opens up the mids and makes them more enjoyable. The set is not power hungry and very easy to drive but scales up very well if you push a little more power into it. I swap cables and roll tips, as usual. I’ll go into further detail about the cable and tips at a later section of this review.
DISCLAIMER
I bought the AFUL Explorer with my own money and interest; this is not a review unit. I do not have a monitory transaction with AFUL Acoustic. And this ‘Aful Explorer review’ is entirely objective, based on my listening experiences during the previous week or two.
One thing more:. My personal experience and information gained from many sources form the basis of this review. Due to individual preferences and variations in physique, such as variations in the depth and form of the ear canal, your experience may differ significantly.
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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
• Drivers: 1DD+2BA
• Impedance: 26Ω±10%>
• Sensitivity: 108dB/mW
• Frequency Response: 10Hz-30kHz
• Connector Type: 0.78m 2-pin connectors
• Cable Termination: 3.5mm/4.4mm
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
• Aful Explorer IEMs
• Braided silver plated single-crystal OFC copper cable
• Two types of ear tips (S,M,L each type), total of six pairs
• A synthetic leather made carrying case
• Official papers
UNBOXING EXPERIENCE
The Aful Explorer comes packaged rather simplistically. It’s basically cardboard packaging that’s more functional than loaded with flashy design. Opening it, you can see the IEMs safely housed in a foam insert. Once the lid is off, you start to notice right away that Explorer itself doesn’t take the simplistic packaging as a license to slack on style. Immediately, you greet a lovely carrying case, most likely made from synthetic leather. Casing open it reveals a braided, silver plated single-crystal OFC copper cable-added with a touch of sophistication. It does come with ear tips, but the selection seems to be on the basic side.
The IEMs themselves are a wonder to behold. The faceplates are made from 3D-printed resin with an “cosmos” pattern-one that is both mesmerizing and full of sparkling stars. It is a design element in space that is sure to turn heads and give oomph to the overall aesthetic of this Aful Explorer. Rather unassuming in terms of flair, the Explorer seems more function over form-a handsome and utilitarian option to present to the budget-conscious audiophile.
Inspired by a cosmos themed design symbolizing limitless exploration among the stars, and with strong support from friends for the name “Explorer,” we decided to name this IEM Explorer, reflecting its unique tuning akin to the performer series.– AFUL
DESIGN & BUILD QUALITY
Aful Explorer looks amazing! Shells made of resin are well-constructed and have a shiny sparkle, which gives attention despite their dark blue color. The most striking feature of them is their face plates that remind one of thousands of stars sparkling in the deep blue night sky. It draws my attention with no time.
In terms of construction, these IEMs are exceptionally well-made and lightweight due to their resin construction. It demonstrates how Aful continues to produce lightweight, comfortable IEMs with a beautiful appearance and presentation. The nozzles are on the longer side and are capable of holding silicon or foam tips with ease. They also seal effectively.
The quality that Aful brings to their stock cable is noticeable. It’s silky, untangled, and nicely braided. But the ear tips are very basic and cheap looking.
FIT & COMFORT
Given the Aful Explorer is made from resin and is very light, it’s a super comfortable IEM. You hardly even feel there’s anything there. They fit just great inside your ear. These here with your preferredly sized ear tips, they fit just perfect. Choosing proper tips is necessary here to get perfect isolation and the quality of audio.
Due to the fact that supplied ear tips are not good enough, you need to utilize some after-market tips and roll them in order to get the best fit. The attached soft, comfy cable doesn’t apply pressure to the ear. There is a vent system to avoid interior vacuums. I must say that Explorer is designed to offer ultimate comfort with superb audio experience.
According to Aful, they make use of MagicOne and P-series IEMs’ technologies and drivers in Explorer. That means the 8mm DD is from P5 & the BAs are from MagicOne. Therefore, one may hope that it will sound expensive & high-end. Surprisingly, that is true.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
The Explorer sounds warmer than previous IEMs released by Aful and that’s the target here. I am a warm-head audiophile and expect a warm-tuned IEM from them, and the Explorer is what they gave. Thanks to Aful’s inventive acoustic bass tube construction, the 8mm DD performs brilliantly in this case, providing excellent bass in both the sub and mid sections.
Aful’s tailor maid BAs are well known for their smooth and enjoyable mids and treble. The Explorer didn’t fail here. Both male & female vocals shine with rich texture and intensity. You will notice a slight thickness in the vocals for the warm characteristic, but the tone is not muted.
Talking about treble, my favorite part of the Explorer. I am a treble sensitive guy and don’t like sparkles in upper frequencies; the Explorer’s treble sounds amazing to me. They are airy, they are smooth, they are light, and they don’t create any fatigue, even for a marathoner like me.
As Aful claims, “the Explorer compatible with a wide array of music genres, from pop to classic symphonics.” I have tried them out with a few genes and listened to them with great joy. Let’s dive in and discover the audio quality of each frequency they produce.
Courtesy: Prime Audio Reviews
SUB-BASS
Aful Explorer pushes a very strong and punchy sub-bass section. It delivers a satisfying thump to the bass line without overwhelming the mix. But it occasionally rolls off to complement the balanced and detailed sound signature.
One of my favorite bands is Rainbow, and their rock number “Man on the Silver Mountain” happens to be my go-to anthem. The Explorer delivers deep, resonant sub-bass that flourishes the powerful riffs and rhythmic bass lines in the song. In a complex mix of various instruments, the IEM ensures that the bass guitar and drum kick are both prominent and clear.
The sub-bass was tastefully thick, and the notes are well pronounced. The low frequency has bold authority without being disturbing or fatiguing.
Keep in mind that, though it’s a set with a warm signature but the sub-bass extension isn’t the deepest. Bass heads who crave bone-cracking, subwoofer-like low-end presentation might find the Aful Explorer a bit lacking in this department.
MID-BASS
What you will be hearing from the mid-bass of the Aful Explorer is ‘thump with definition’. This gives it some nice warmth and body to the overall sound. The whole presentation of mid-bass emphasizes accuracy and detail, ensuring the basslines complement the music rather than overpowering it.
Bad wolves’ cover of The Cranberries’ hit number “Zombie” is a statement of their musical talent and effort. The Explorer’s performance on this track is quite noteworthy.
This track has a mid-bass with a powerful presence, delivering a punchy and authoritative impact. The IEM presented this true nature and enhanced the dynamic elements of the music. It manages to balance mid-bass well, ensuring that it doesn’t muddy the overall sound presentation.
But you may find it slightly lean if you love super-saturated and boosted mid-bass.
MALE VOCALS
It’s warm & detailed in the Aful Explorer, which translates well to a clear and engaging performance with male vocals across genres.
I love country music since my childhood, and Alan Jackson is one of my very favorite country singers. The Explorer delivers clear and engaging male vocals. The mix of DD & BA setups work together to create a warm & detailed midrange, and that plays the perfect magic.
It renders Alan Jackson’s voice with accuracy and presents it with rich timber. When listening to tracks like “Remember When,” the IEM ensures that the lower midrange captures the depth and resonance of his vocals, giving a full-bodied and authentic sound. The slightly forward presentation in the midrange allows Jackson’s voice to stand out without overshadowing the instruments in the composition.
The Aful Explorer renders a natural and enjoyable presentation of male vocals and controls any sibilance that may occur with certain consonants like “s” or “t” very well.
FEMALE VOCALS
The bright feature of Aful Explorer is its female vocals, which are rich and engaging to listen to. It portrays female vocals in a natural tone and clarity. The hybrid driver set-up to ensure that female vocals are presented with information in detail.
Listening to “Beautiful Goodbye” by Amanda Marshall is simply magic. From the very beginning of the track, it captures every texture of her breathy voice-even the most subtle note is audible. That clarity is admirable; there isn’t any muddiness between the vocals and the piano playing in the background in the same frequency range.
As the song becomes emotionally deeper, the intensity of Marshall’s vocal delivery increases, and here, the IEM shows its finesse by not distorting it and keeps the natural timber, texture, and airiness of the vocalist.
It’s not the perfect scenario all the time, there are some limitations. As the midrange is smooth, certain female vocals may occasionally exhibit a slight recession, making them feel less forward.
TREBLE
The Aful Explorer is a very good treble performer and walks a line between smooth detail and a touch of warmth. It manages to strike a balance between extension and decay. The treble sits forward in the line with the midrange, creating an airy sensation and adding clarity.
While listening to Metallica’s “The Unforgiven ii,” I was amazed by the precise transition of the mix of guitar riffs and delicate acoustic interludes. The treble is well-extended, capturing the tiny details of the cymbal crashes and high-hat patterns without being harsh.
The IEM manages to maintain a perfect balance and allows the treble to shine without overpowering the mids or bass.
But listeners who love sparkle in treble or love brighter sound signature will not be satisfied with the treble section of Aful Explorer, as its approach is to deliver a fatigue free and clear treble.
INSTRUMENTS SEPARATION
The Aful Explorer is a fantastic performer in this section and has a commendable instrument separation, a critical feature for audiophiles. It’s driver configuration contributes to its ability to maintain distinct layers of sound across different frequencies.
One of my very favorite bands is Pink Floyd, and I listen to them almost every day. Their thoughtful lyrical track “Us & Them” is known for its complex layering and rich instrument arrangement. The Aful Explorer manages to distinctly present them all. From the mellow saxophone solo to the delicate synthesized keyboards, they were presented in such a way that you could point each instrument in different position on the stage.
When the backing vocals and saxophone interplay in the chorus, they have been dearly delineated in great depth and dimension to this performance.
There are some limitations: on very dense tracks, a few listeners may notice a slight crowding of the lower mids that can give instruments that fall in that range a somewhat indistinct character. And even though the high frequencies are usually very clear, they can sometimes be just a little sharp and stand out enough to take away from the overall sense of smoothness in the presentation.
SOUNDSTAGE
While the Aful Explorer presents a more intimate soundstage, its midrange is more forward-projecting and starts to place components closer to the listener. The soundstage isn’t small, per se-it’s got a respectable breadth and an above-average depth to flesh out and create a more immersive listening experience.
The Explorer shows its capabilities and limitations in soundstage performance while listening to the rocking track “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin.
Dynamic strings, powerful brass, and Page’s iconic guitar riffs-the IEM presented all those elements in a very distinctive way and placed them in a manner that gives a good sense of space separation. John Bonham’s thunderous drumming feels impactful while Robert Plant’s vocals are positioned up front.
For those audiophiles who enjoy an extremely wide soundstage, the Aful Explorer may fall a little short. As great as it is with respect to horizontal separation-clear and distinguishable as right and left-the IEM isn’t as strong with regard to depth and vertical presentation.
CABLE & TIP ROLLING
To me, these are very important, because I like to hear the sound to its full potential and with comfort, as I’m a marathoner, who loves to enjoy music for 5–6 hours straight. There is nothing to say about cable swapping, as Aful delivered one of the best stock cables with the Explorer. But you can try different cables, if you have them in collection.
To me, the NiceHCK MixPP is the first cable to use & examine after the stock one. I found it works well with most of the IEM I own and also fits & sounds very well with the Explorer. It didn’t make any change in the signature but pushed up a bit to optimize the full potential of the IEM.
Now, ear tips. The Explorer comes with six pairs of totally non usable, cheap-looking, and basic silicon tips, which I didn’t bother to use. Spinfit W1, Omni, CP145, CP100+, Divinus Velvet, Tangzu Tan Sanchi, Dunu S&S, TRN Clarion, and Pinon Liqueur all fit well to the nozzle. After a lot of research with various ear tips, my top picks are Dunu S&S and TRN Clarion.
S&S make a good seal and give you the perfect comfort but Clarion makes the mids livelier and adds a bit openness in soundstage while giving you a very good fit & comfort. With clarion, you will find that, the vocals (male & female) are rendered quite lively. So, my obvious choice here is the ‘TRN Clarion.’ If you don’t have this, don’t bother to buy one, they are very cheap and easy to find.
RECOMMENDED FOR
1. Warm sound lovers
2. Detail-Oriented audiophiles
3. Genre hoppers
4. Loves thick vocals
5. Comfort seekers
6. Love aesthetics in IEM design
7. Budget conscious audiophiles.
NOT FOR
1. Treble lovers
2. Seeking ultimate energy in vocals (especially female)
3. Loves IEM made of metal
4. Wide soundstage seekers
5. Requires critical listening needs
6. ‘BA timber’ nitpickers.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Aful Explorer is ideal for any budget-conscious audiophile who values a balanced and engaging, warm sound signature. Although it may lack the largest of soundstages or deepest low-end extension, its midrange is warm and detailed, its mid-bass punchy, and treble smooth yet detailed. This makes for a clean and pleasant listen devoid of listening fatigue, regardless if one’s favorite genres range from rock, pop, and metal to country, jazz, and blues. Adding more value to the package is the comfortable shape, secure fit, and stylish aesthetics. If you want a fatigue-free listening experience, focusing on clear vocals and well-defined instruments, then be prepared to receive one of the best sonic experiences on a budget with the Aful Explorer.
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