In this review, I will try to answer the questions:
In this review we:
- We will examine the sound features in detail;
- Discuss the design and kit;
- Compare the headphones with similar ones in the price category;
- And make a conclusion: are they worth their money?
What does the manufacturer offers in wired headphones
AFUL Explorer?
AFUL Explorer in-ear wired headphones - sound
The AFUL Explorer are wired headphones with a safe, comfortable tuning focused on soft and muted sound. The sound seems delicately euphonious, which is especially pronounced in the smoothed attacks and low dynamic range. This makes the sound less emotional and more background, which may appeal to those looking for a comfortable sound for extended listening. Despite this, there is still some harmony in the sound, which may make the headphones appeal to listeners who want a calm and even sound without aggressive peaks.
- Bass – 8 : the bass part of the AFUL Explorer’s sound does not stand out with volume and punch. The bass is smoother and softer, which is in line with the overall philosophy of comfortable tuning. There is no deep bass and impact here, which makes the headphones less suitable for fans of pronounced bass, but nevertheless, there is a certain amount of body in it. This is their definite appeal for those who prefer unobtrusive and less accentuated bass presentation.
I tested them on the composition: “Royals” by Lorde. This composition is characterized by deep, elastic bass, which helps to appreciate the quality of the bass frequencies, their texture and control. - Midrange – 7 : is the main component of the AFUL Explorer’s sound picture. The midrange is quite even, but lacks expressiveness and emotional content. They are perceived as “softened”, with a slight emphasis on comfort, without pronounced peaks. At the same time, the sound in this area retains its general smoothness and does not cause sharpness even with prolonged listening.
I tested it on the track: “The Look” by Metronomy. This track with its layered melodies and clear vocal parts perfectly reveals the purity and transparency of the midrange sound. - High frequencies – 6.5 : the AFUL Explorer headphones are also characterized by smoothness and softness. There is no brightness and sharpness here, which makes the delivery rather “deaf”. Despite the open sound conduits, which should add airiness in the upper range, the overall treble delivery remains smooth and does not stand out in the overall sound.
Tested on the following tracks: “Time” (Hans Zimmer) – soundtrack to the movie “Inception.” A classic track with bright, clear treble that allows you to appreciate the smoothness and absence of sibilants. - Detail – 7 : at AFUL Explorer is limited. Despite a certain transparency of sound, the detail leaves much to be desired. This is especially noticeable in the dynamic range, which is not wide enough here. As a result, the sound can seem “toy-like”, which makes it difficult to highlight small details and nuances in musical compositions.
I tested it on the composition: “Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap. A composition with a very rich sound space and lots of subtle details in the vocals and sound effects, which is perfect for testing detail. - Scene – 7 : with these headphones is compact and does not have a wide spread. The images are small and the stage sounds as if it is “narrowed”. This gives the impression that the sound lacks depth and spaciousness, which in turn reinforces the impression of plushness and compression of the musical canvas.
Tested on the track: “Bubbles” by Yosi Horikawa. This track contains many sounds that move throughout the soundstage, helping to appreciate the width, depth and accuracy of the positioning of sounds. - To summarize , the AFUL Explorer are headphones with an emphasis on comfortable and smooth sound, focused on long listening sessions without fatigue. They offer a soft and subdued delivery, making them suitable for those who prefer a more background music listening experience. Despite their plush nature and limited dynamic range, these headphones may find their audience thanks to their balanced presentation without harsh accents. However, they are unlikely to suit those looking for vivid dynamics and high detail.
Comparison with competitors
I will make a comparison with
-
- Sivga Que
AFUL MagicOne: This is a single-driver armature headphone with better sound quality due to more pronounced dynamics and detail, but less comfortable with the intensity of the HF range. AFUL Explorer offers a cozier, smoother sound, they may seem less interesting for active listening.
The MagicOne is suitable for those who appreciate richness and clarity of sound, while the Explorers are ideal for background listening and comfort. Overall, if you're looking for higher sound quality, the AFUL MagicOne will be preferred.
The SIVGA Que has a warm, bass-oriented sound with brighter treble and accentuated midrange. This makes them more expressive and emotional. SIVGA Que will suit those who appreciate a richer and more dynamic sound, while AFUL Explorer will be good for background listening.
Compared to the Aful Explorer, the EPZ K1 offers a more detailed and transparent sound, making them more suitable for critical listening. The K1 features better clarity in the midrange and treble, allowing you to hear more nuance in your recordings. While the Aful Explorer has a comfortable and smooth sound, the EPZ K1 exhibits more dynamics and responsiveness, especially in complex musical compositions. So, if you are looking for a more accurate and informative headphone, the EPZ K1 would be a better choice.
Design, kit and comfort - AFUL Explorer
- Design: the Aful Explorer has a beautiful and ergonomic design. The faceplates have silver AFUL Explorer lettering on a dark blue space nebula background. The headphone housing is made of lightweight and durable medical grade plastic. There is one combined compensation-ventilation hole on the end of the case, so there are no extraneous sounds of a tearing diaphragm. The color palette includes deep and rich shades of indigo. The sound drivers have no mesh on the output and you can see the driver channels with filters installed. There is also no border on the sound driver for the ear cushions. This caused the ear cushions to stay in my ears and I experienced discomfort.
The headphone cable, you could say, is perfect. It is a 2-wire cable with 200 strands in each wire made of silver-plated copper with a thick silicone braid that doesn’t allow tangling. It is quite elastic and pleasant to the touch and has no microphonic effect. On one side at the end of the wire are 2Pin 0.78mm connectors, on the other side you have the choice of buying Jack 3.5mm or Jack 4.4mm. All connectors have gold plated contacts and chrome plated housings.
- Kit: the headphones have a sufficient kit: a case, 3 kinds of ear cushions and a good cable.
- Comfort: comfortable and convenient headphones with a nice wire. But all the sensations from the first wearing spoiled the sound of the headphones, because of which the third-party ear cushions fell out or remained in the ears. With the complete ear cushions such “adventures” did not happen.
Design - 9
Kit - 8
Comfort - 7
Aful ExplorerSpecifications
- Design: three-driver hybrid (1 dynamic driver + 2 balanced armature drivers).
- Impedance: 26 ohms ±10%.
- Sensitivity: 108 dB/mW.
- Frequency range: 10 Hz – 30 kHz.
- Connector type: 0.78 mm 2-pin.
- Cable termination: 3.5mm or 4.4mm.
- Cable: 200-conductor double-core cable made of silver plated copper, hand braided.
- Technologies:
- RLC network frequency division,
- 3D printed acoustic tube,
- Highly damped air pressure management system,
- Self-designed balanced armature drivers with wide frequency range.
What's in the Aful Explorer box?
A commendable package:
- Headphones.
- Wire.
- Three types of ear cushions.
- Pouch.
- Instructions.
Aful Explorer output
Aful Explorer headphones don't stand out for their detailed sound and wide stage, they can't boast of bright HF or tonal midrange. Nevertheless, they are quite musical and enjoyable in everyday listening to songs because their sound is balanced and has nice silky tones.
The headphones are interesting and design appealing, but I would not recommend them to audiophiles and music lovers, they are fine for beginner audio enthusiasts.
