AR3000

Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (i5, 256GB SSD, 40GB RAM, Tahoe 26), 4TB external SSD with Thunderbolt 3, Audirvana Studio, Qobuz Sublime, Gustard U26 USB bridge, LHY Audio SW-8 & SW-6 switch, Sonnet Pasithea; Preamp: Hattor Audio ARP-S; Active filter: spl Audio Crossover MkII; Power amplifiers: Vinshine/Kinki Dazzle & Audiophonics NCx500 on subwoofer; Loudspeakers: Qualio IQ [on loan]; Subwoofer: sound|kaos D15; Cables: Exact Express Flame, Furutech; Power delivery: 2 x Kinki/Vinshine Tai Hang on amps and source stack, Furutech DPS-4.1 between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc amp stands; Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators, AudioQuest FogLifters; Room: 6 x 8m with open door behind listening seat; Room treatment: 2 x PSI Audio AVAA C214 active bass traps
1st upstairs speaker system: Source: Shanling EM7 into Soundaware D300Ref SD transport to Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Preamp/filter: Lifesaver Audio iCon 4SE & Gradient Box 2; Amplifier: Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos; Loudspeakers: sound|kaos Vox3awf; Subwoofer: sound|kaos D12 on twin Nord Acoustic NC500 monos; Cable loom: Exact Express Earth; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra, Akiko Audio Corelli Corundum & Castello Solo; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Sundry accessories: Furutech cable lifts, Furutech NFC Clear Lines; Room: ~3.5 x 8m
1st upstairs headfi system: DAC: Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Headamp: Cen.Grand Silver Fox; Headphones: Raal 1995 Magna, HifiMan Susvara
Desktop system: Source: HP Z2 workstation Win11/64; USB isolator: LHY UIP; LAN distributors: LHY AS6 Pro & SW6-SFP; Ethernet reclocker: Stack SmoothLAN; DACs: Gustard R26II & U26; Preamp: Topping A900; Speaker amps: Topping B200 monos; Loudspeakers: Virtual Hifi Viper; Headphones: Final D-8000, aune SR7000, FiiO FT7, HifiMan Susvara Unveiled
2nd upstairs headfi system: Shanling EM5; Headphones: Meze 109 Pro, HifiMan HE1000 Unveiled
2nd upstairs speaker system: Source: smsl PL200T CD transport; DAC: Shanling EM5 w. 1TB microSD; Crossover: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box II; Amplifiers: LAIV Crescendo Chorus; Loudspeakers: MonAcoustic SuperMon Mini with Dynaudio S18 subwoofer
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; All-in-One: Gold Note IS-1000 Deluxe; Loudspeakers: ModalAkustik MusikBoxx; Subwoofer: 2 x Zu Method; Power delivery: Furutech eTP-8, Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail in EU: €TBD

Numerology. In aune's full-size headphone catalogue, the €369 AR5000 MkII and €639 SR7000 represent the open- and close-backed centre. We just didn't know that until the €1'499 AR9000 flagship raised the ceiling earlier this year; and the AR3000 just became the new entrance. For its numerology, think 27Ω, 50mm and 115dB/Vrms for load impedance, driver Ø and sensitivity. As shown, its neodymium-powered well-vented driver with aluminium voice coil tilts aggressively inside its oval dish as the inside of the open-backed earcup. With its angled baffle, that fires our dynamic driver strategically into all ear canals for better imagining. From its siblings, the AR3000 inherits styling and ergonomics to predict equally comfortable wear. Included are 1.5m long 3.5mm and 4.4mm cables plus a 3.5⇒6.3mm adaptor. October 9th, "we’re readying a very important new product, the AR3000. It's currently scheduled to launch by the end of October. Since June's High End Vienna show, the AR3000 has been getting a lot of global attention already even though it hasn't officially released yet. We are extremely excited to launch and would be very happy to send you a pair. If interested, please wait until product launch before publishing a review." That was factory contact Shelly Chang who also had secured my AR9000 sample in the same shipment. To obey the AR3000 embargo, until its official launch this was all she said.

… to be continued…