At first glance, it don’t scream “high-end” or “fancy,” but the moment I popped it in and let the first few tracks roll, I could tell — this one’s built different. It’s got that open-back design goin’ on, but not like the usual thin or overly airy kinda sound some other buds in this style have. There’s real depth here. The low-end especially caught me… for an earbud, the bass got actual weight to it, not boomy or overdone, just nicely rounded and full. What really impressed me though is how balanced and natural the vocals sound. You can tell AFUL put some real thought into the tuning and acoustic design. That dual-resonance and damping thing they talk about? Yeah, it ain’t just marketing — it actually works. Everything feels smooth and well-controlled, even when you crank the volume a bit. Well, let's dig a bit deeper...
AFUL POLAR NIGHT Review
Straight to the point, this earbud is source sensitive, and you may not enjoy it with every source you have. No, it’s not too power-hungry or with a low impedance. It’s all because of its tuning, it’s a bass-heavy set where vocals fall a bit backward. It sounds good with a bit brighter or neutral sources, warm sources will ruin the enjoyment. I will cover this later in this review.
The sound is fantastic when the source matches, but the main issue for me is the fit. Some folks like buds, and some are IEM lovers, I’m on the second team. I didn’t keep any buds that came to my team for review because they didn’t fit my ears, and I don’t feel comfortable with them.
DISCLAIMER
AFUL was kind enough to send me the Polar Night to review. I am not affiliated with AFUL, and of course, I was not asked for any copy-checking before publishing. All opinions shared in this ‘AFUL Polar Night review’ are my subjective thoughts.
One thing more: The review is based on my personal experience and what I hear using different sources. Your experience may vary because of personal preference and physical differences like the shape and depth of the ear canal.
For your personal purchase, checkout GEEK MART or AFUL for their fantastic products and promotions (non-affiliated links).
GEAR USED
● DAP: Cowon Planue R2, Cayin N3 Ultra, Hiby RS2, Hiby R4, Snowsky Echo Mini.
● DAC/AMP: xDuoo MT-604, Fosi Audio GR40, Hiby FD5, KAEI Design TAP2, ifi Hip DAC 2, xDuoo XD-05 Plus (with BB OPA 2604), Cayin RU7, iBasso DC04 Pro, Dunu DTC 480, Fosi Audio DS-1, Celest CD-10, Celest CD-20, Hiby FC 05, Hiby FD 03, Hidizs SD8 Pro Robin, Moondrop Dawn Pro.
● Smart Device: Poco X3, Xiaomi MiPad 5.
● Files: Tidal, Spotify, local Hi-Res FLAC & DSD files.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
● Driver: 15.4mm Dynamic Driver Unit
● Frequency response: 20Hz-25kHz
● Impedance: 32Ω
● Sensitivity: 108 dB
● Cable: High-purity 5N single-crystal copper cable
● Pin Type: MMCX
● Cable Length: 1.2m
● Plug Type: 4.4mm
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
● Polar Night Earbuds
● High-purity 5N single-crystal copper cable
● 3 pairs of foam (Red, Blue & Black)
● Carrying case
● Foam filters
● Some official papers
UNBOXING EXPERIENCE
The box reminds me of the Hidizs MP145 box size, they both are almost the same, a bit large in length. The unboxing is straightforward, just like all other regular AFUL products. We will be greeted by the beautiful-looking buds that are nestled in a foam cutout. Underneath this, a comparatively big carrying pouch with ‘AFUL’ branding as usual, and it’s made of PU leather. Inside that box you’ll have the stock cable and three different colored foam tips inside plastic pouches. It’s simple as always!
BUILD & DESIGN
AFUL approaches with a total poetic concept while designing the Polar Night. As per AFUL, “During the long polar nights, aurora lights fill the sky with energy and life in the form of their cool blue-violet patterns. Moved by this fleeting beauty of the night sky, AFUL’s designer has captured the magic on the colorful face covers. Left ear depicts the “Silent Polar Night” with Blue-purple geometrical patterns on the face covers. On the right side, it shows “Dawn’s Fiery Blaze” with eye-catching purple-red fragments on the face covers. The pair has a poetic, designer look that makes the AFUL Polar Night stand out in today’s competitive market.”
In my point of view, the buds’ design and build are fantastic and awesome, and they will make you crave one! The stock cable is good and soft, while the MMCX connectors seem sturdy. But in my opinion, they should make the cable a bit colorful and stand out by matching the color palette of the buds. A simple fabric muffler can do the job. A pure black cable with these gorgeous buds doesn’t go well with the aesthetics.
FIT & COMFORT
That’s something tricky for me. Oh man, earbuds always give me a big discomfort, even if I listen to a single track with them. So, I will leave this point up to users, cause there are many who have no problem with earbuds. And seriously, it was challenging for me to listen to them for review purposes, but I’m glad that I did a really long experiment to understand every possible musical & technical point of Polar Night.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
AFUL Polar Night acts differently with and without foam tips. With tips, they become a bit bass-heavy, and the vocals feel kind of laid-back, and the instruments that fall in the midrange feel like they’re coming from behind. But without the foam, they feel fantastically balanced with controlled bass, and the whole midrange area sits just in line. The sound is really musical and fantastic but without compromising details. It has quality bass, a very detailed and comfortable midrange, and a treble that has good spark and extension.
Here is the frequency graph:
Let’s dive deep…
SUB-BASS
The sub-bass on Polar Night is deep, super deep. It rumbles like hell, but it’s not disturbing or even bass-head level. Though it’s an open-back bud, the sub-bass response surprises me, to be honest. Though it’s not slam like closed-back IEMs, there’s this smooth and deep kinda rumble that feels just right. Proper warmth is present there, like the bass doesn’t just hit & leave—it hangs around a bit, but in a clean way, not messy or boomy at all. It never bleeds into the mids, which I appreciate a lot.
While playing “Every Breath You Take” by The Police, that awesome bassline keeps looping through the whole track—man, it came through so smooth. The gentle, pulsing sub-bass with a juicy warmth just sitting under Sting’s vocals, kinda holding everything together! It didn’t lose its place or try to grab too much attention. Even with the open-back design, it didn’t feel like the bass was leaking or losing control.
MID-BASS
I didn’t expect much mid-bass from an open-back earbud, but I was really surprised! I mean, they’re open-back buds, right? But man, they sound great & musical. The mid-bass had this pleasant little punch to it—not too boomy or anything—but just a little bit of that ensemble weight & energy. It has that warmth to it too, like, it brings the track alive but doesn’t get things muddied up. The one thing that really surprised me is how controlled it felt. The bass never wandered into the lower mids and messed things up.
I put on “Endless Summer Nights” by Richard Marx with a whole lot happenin’ in the drums and the bass. And man, the Polar Night did way better than I was hoping. The kick drums punched through with this nice thump and the bass guitar? Nice and clear and tight. Didn’t step on the vocals at all, either, but just sat in the background and gave the track some nice low-end and wasn’t trying to be the star.
VOCALS
MALE
Male vocals in Polar Night is something really enjoyable. They come out just right, actually the way I want them to. I always enjoy warm, meaty male vocals, and here in Polar Night, it’s just like this. The vocals have adequate weight in them with a very good hint of warmth. But don’t be afraid, they never get muddy or bloated like some other warm, bass-heavy earbuds I tested before. And the most enjoyable thing for me is that the male vocals seem a bit laid-back, not an in-your-face type of presentation, but not coming from far behind either.
Juggling through Chris Rea‘s discography and while listening to “Looking for the Summer”—that deep, slightly gravelly baritone comes through with a nice touch of warmth. It feels like a well-aged whiskey rather than a syrup! There’s weight behind his voice, sure, but it doesn’t overwhelm the track or smear into the lower mids. The vocal sits right where it should—present, natural, with just enough texture to keep it real.
FEMALE
Though there’s warmth in the male vocals, that doesn’t mean female vocals in Polar Night get lost or stay under the hood. It shines, it really shines, with a very good hint of sparkle and power. They are not the fatiguing type of thing but are very enjoyable, even on a longer session. The way the tuning balances the richness and clarity is really impressive. The earbuds don’t artificially push female vocals forward for a ‘wow’ factor. Instead, it layers them naturally into the mix, letting them shine without overpowering the instrumentation.
I was listening to “Immortality” by Celine Dion with these earbuds and was definitely blown away by the way the Polar Night handles the powerhouse kinda vocal Celine is capable of. It’s got good body, it’s got sparkle, but most importantly, it’s got emotion. The earbuds don’t try to smooth over her signature vibrato or blunt the soaring highs in her delivery. Instead, it lets her voice ride that perfect line between silky and intense.
INSTRUMENTS SEPARATION
This is the most enjoyable part of the Polar Night, if it pairs well with the source. One of the biggest strengths of these earbuds is how they untangle complex mixes without making them sound like a clinical dissection. The separation here isn’t just about shoving instruments into their own little spaces—it’s about giving each element room to breathe while keeping the music cohesive. Highs don’t step on the mids, bass doesn’t bleed into the lower registers, and nothing gets lost in the shuffle.
Put on “Rock Steady” by Sting, and you’ll hear exactly what I mean. That track’s a mess in lesser sets—congested, with the slap bass fighting the horns and the percussion getting smothered. But the Polar Night? It keeps everything distinct. The funky bassline pops with its own groove, the brass section stabs through with bite but never overwhelms, and even the subtler stuff—the shakers, the guitar licks—stays crisp and defined. Yet somehow, it all still gels together like a live band, not a bunch of isolated stems.
TREBLE
The Polar Night’s treble is one of those rare things that manages to be detailed without getting harsh—a combination that is hard to get at this price level. It has a pleasant shimmer but no metallic sheen or forced artificiality added in the name of “detail.” Cymbals degrade naturally, strings don’t turn into ice picks, and even when things get busy, the highs remain in control rather than turning into a fizzy mess. It is not the airiest nor the hyper-stretched treble, but what there is so well ordered that you won’t even miss the added shimmer.
Now test it with “Sad But True” by Metallica—a tune that will place any treble problems in sharp perspective. The Polar Night deals with the hi-hat fury and harmonically warped guitars with aplomb, biting but not overpowering or piercing. Hetfield’s singing slices through any sibilance, and the cymbals crash with authority rather than vanishing into a murmur. Even when the tune is hammering along full bore, the treble is clear and crisply sounding, and you can isolate threads of sound in the melee without weariness creeping in.
SOUNDSTAGE
The Polar Night pulls off a pretty convincing illusion of space—it’s not gonna trick you into thinking you’re in a concert hall, but it definitely avoids that cramped “inside your head” feeling. The stage stretches wider than deep, with instruments having room to breathe without losing their precise placement. What’s impressive is how it balances separation with cohesion—elements stay distinct but never feel disconnected from the mix.
Throw on “You Make Loving Fun” by Fleetwood Mac and you’ll hear what I mean. Christine McVie’s electric piano floats off to the side with perfect clarity, while Buckingham’s guitar licks dance across the stage without ever stepping on the vocals. The backing harmonies sit slightly behind Stevie Nicks’ lead, giving that classic Fleetwood Mac layered effect. Even the tambourine hits have their own little pocket in the mix—not artificially spotlighted, just naturally placed where they should be.
TECHNICALITIES
DYNAMICS
The Polar Night doesn’t just play music—it performs it. Dynamic swings hit with proper weight, whether it’s the sudden crack of a snare or the swelling intensity of an orchestral crescendo. But what’s impressive is how it handles the quieter stuff—the slight hesitation in a vocal phrase, the delicate decay of a piano note—without losing resolution.
SPEED
Transient response is where these buds surprise you. Fast, aggressive tracks (think complex metal or EDM) don’t turn into a blur—the Polar Night keeps up without making everything sound unnaturally sharp. Kick drums have a tight thud rather than a loose boom, and plucked strings maintain their initial bite without trailing off into mush.
ANALYTICS
The Polar Night could have gone full detail-monster to impress spec-sheet warriors. Instead, it gives you just enough resolution to hear the texture in a singer’s breath or the fingers sliding on guitar strings—without turning the mix into a forensic autopsy. It’s like having a sharp lens that’s slightly softened at the edges; you see everything important, but you’re not distracted by every imperfection in the recording.
SOURCES
Ah, let me tell ya, this thing is super picky! If it pairs well with any source, it will show its strengths, but if not, then the thing you’ll hear is an absolute nightmare! I find a bit neutral-tuned sources paired very well with it. Though it’s not the all-time scenario! We all know that Cayin RU7 adds some note weight and increases the warmth in the lower region, but it pairs really well with Polar Night. But the iBasso DC04 Pro shows a totally different attitude! The same goes for Celest CD-10! They both deliver a bloated bass with muddy midrange and have less separation & stage! The Hiby FD3 also shows this kinda result.
My Hiby FC05, Dunu DTC480, Fosi Audio DS1, and the Moondrop Down Pro show really good results with it. Though you don’t need any desktop amp to drive this, but if you have some in your collection, why not experience it? My Fosi Audio GR40, xDuoo XD-05 Plus, xDuoo MT-604 (FD03 as DAC), and TAP 2 (in solid-state mode) deliver really good sound, while the Hiby FD05 & TAP 2 (in tube mode) didn’t match well!
The DAPs in my collection are also giving me that kinda mixed result! The Hiby R4, RS2, Planue R2, Echo Mini, and F Audio FA5 give me a very good musical presentation, but the Cayin N3 Ultra failed in both solid-state and tube mode. It’s a surprise!!
Last but not least, it’s not a super power-hungry bud or a very hard-to-drive kinda thing. I pair it directly with my smartphone with a 3.5mm to 4.4mm converter (ddHifi DJ44C). I just cranked up the volume to 90 to get my desired loudness. But the sound it presents is not pleasant enough. The top end shows uneven sparkle with a lot of sibilance in the upper mids. And the bass? It’s not with quality!
FINAL THOUGHTS
The AFUL Polar Night is a damn good pick if you’re after a balanced, musical listen that doesn’t skimp on technical chops. If your playlist jumps from classic rock to jazz to acoustic sessions, these handle it all without breaking a sweat. Vocals—male or female—sound natural and engaging, instruments have space to breathe, and the treble’s smooth enough for long sessions. Also, if you dig well-layered production, the separation here keeps things clean without feeling sterile.
If you’re a basshead craving skull-rattling sub-boom, these ain’t it—the low end is tight and controlled, not exaggerated. Same goes for treble junkies who want that ultra-sparkly, cymbal-crashing-in-your-face sound; the Polar Night’s highs are detailed but relaxed. And if you’re after a razor-sharp, ultra-analytical monitor for critical studio work, there are better options (like the Blessing 3) that’ll dissect mixes more ruthlessly. Also, if you’re all about that ultra-wide soundstage for orchestral or live recordings, these don’t quite hit that “holographic” level.
WHATEVER YOU’RE THINKIN’ OF BUYING—DAC, DAP, IEM, HEADPHONE, AMP, WHATEVER—JUST MAKE SURE YOU GIVE IT A DEMO RUN FIRST. TRY IT OUT, LISTEN TO IT WITH YOUR OWN TRACKS. SERIOUSLY, ONE QUICK AUDITION CAN SAVE YOU A BUNCH OF MONEY AND REGRET LATER ON.
You can read other reviews HERE.
