Aune AR5000 Headphone Review

[CedarX]

You've just got to love the AR5000. Even albums with mediocre recording quality sound remarkably pleasant on them.

Errrrh… No… To me, a great headphones should sound exactly how the album is supposed to sound: mediocre it is, mediocre it shall sound!

 

[I0000dayz]

Errrrh… No… To me, a great headphones should sound exactly how the album is supposed to sound: mediocre it is, mediocre it shall sound!

This is not a direct response to your comment, however, it makes me think me of the myth that superior headphones "reveal flaws" to the point where music becomes unenjoyable, which is simply not true. The best headphones have an increased detail retrieval, dynamic contrast, and timbral accuracy, so flaws in the recording like compression artifacts, harsh mastering, poor mic placement, become more audible. At the same time, superior dynamics, lower distortion, and improved transient response mean that even a mediocre mix is reproduced with greater coherence and realism. You hear why it's mediocre, not just that it is, but compared to cheap headphones, the musical experience is always elevated.

 

[cursive]

Just got my AR5000.
It's an absolutely fantastic headphone. I actually like it better than the D1, because the D1 has a certain sharpness between 1–4kHz, that the Aune doesn't have!

The ar5000 have the best bass I've ever heard

Just got these, and trying as many EQ profiles as I can find. I noticed your band 12 at 10khz is 0.0db (aka no change). Is this intentional?

Also curious about your comment "best bass you've ever heard". Could you elaborate at all? Better than other headphones you have? Which models?

Loving them so far as a compliment to several hifiman cans I have. But I do miss the planar bass in some ways.

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

The EQ profile is based on oratory’s profile.

I’ve owned following headphones

Arya Unveiled, DCA Noire X, Arya Organic, Utopia 2022, HE-1000 Stealth, HE-1000 V2, HE6SE V2, HE-400i, PM2, TH Ebony, Nightowl, D7200/9200, Elegia, Stellia, D8000, SR-L507, Heddphone, Utopia OG, LCD-Mobius, PX-7, P9, LCD-5, LCD-X, LCD-i3/i4, Solaris SE/2020, Legend X, SR007/009S, Empyrean, DT-1990, Arya V2/V3, KSE1200, Aeon Flow open 2

The low end on the AR5000 is impressive; it’s authoritative and has great punch and slam without losing control. It feels like there’s infinite headroom

 

[IAtaman]

The EQ profile is based on oratory’s profile.

I’ve owned following headphones

Arya Unveiled, DCA Noire X, Arya Organic, Utopia 2022, HE-1000 Stealth, HE-1000 V2, HE6SE V2, HE-400i, PM2, TH Ebony, Nightowl, D7200/9200, Elegia, Stellia, D8000, SR-L507, Heddphone, Utopia OG, LCD-Mobius, PX-7, P9, LCD-5, LCD-X, LCD-i3/i4, Solaris SE/2020, Legend X, SR007/009S, Empyrean, DT-1990, Arya V2/V3, KSE1200, Aeon Flow open 2

The low end on the AR5000 is impressive; it’s authoritative and has great punch and slam without losing control. It feels like there’s infinite headroom

Better than LCD-X?

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

I really like the LCD-X, but after spending time with the Hedd D1 and the AR5000, I’ve noticed something I first felt with the Clear MG and Utopia: dynamic drivers just sound more authentic to me than planars.
I know where I am, and I can't back this up with measurements. But I hear what I hear. To me, a dynamic driver sounds 'righter,' probably because of its design and the way it moves air. If I listen to a dynamic driver for a while and then switch back to a planar, the planar just sounds 'off'—no matter how much I mess with the EQ.

 

[cursive]

The EQ profile is based on oratory’s profile.

I’ve owned following headphones

Arya Unveiled, DCA Noire X, Arya Organic, Utopia 2022, HE-1000 Stealth, HE-1000 V2, HE6SE V2, HE-400i, PM2, TH Ebony, Nightowl, D7200/9200, Elegia, Stellia, D8000, SR-L507, Heddphone, Utopia OG, LCD-Mobius, PX-7, P9, LCD-5, LCD-X, LCD-i3/i4, Solaris SE/2020, Legend X, SR007/009S, Empyrean, DT-1990, Arya V2/V3, KSE1200, Aeon Flow open 2

The low end on the AR5000 is impressive; it’s authoritative and has great punch and slam without losing control. It feels like there’s infinite headroom

Thanks for clarifying, I'm amazed at the variety of models you've owned! I honestly enjoy them more and more each time I use them. One thing that doesn't get enough praise is the comfort/weight, for my big head it's easily the best of the pack I own. I think I've settled on a modified Auto EQ based on unheardlabs measurements, and some manual fine tuning. They just sound right.

I agree about your comments on the dynamic driver, I have owned mostly planars over the years (3 planars currently), and it just sounds different. Effortless? Balanced? I dunno, I agree I can't quantify it, and I honestly hate describing it with those types of words. Another thing that's hard to quantify or describe is that these sound really good at low levels? Most likely it's because they're just really sensitive vs some of my other pairs but I find myself listening quieter than my other sets, and still getting the same enjoyment.

There are definite advantages in planar tech too, hard to beat the bass capabilities, and lower distortion, especially at high levels. But hey, variety is the spice of life, and thankfully I'm able to have and enjoy both.