AR5000

Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (i5, 256GB SSD, 40GB RAM, Sonoma 14), 4TB external SSD with Thunderbolt 3, Audirvana Studio, Qobuz Sublime, Singxer SU-6 USB bridge, LHY Audio SW-8 & SW-6 switch, Laiv Audio Harmony; Active filter: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box 2; Power amplifiers: Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos & Gold Note monos on subwoofer; Headamp: Enleum AMP-23R; Phones: Raal 1995 Immanis, HifiMan Susvara; Loudspeakers: Qualio IQ [on loan] Cables: Kinki Studio Earth, Furutech; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra on all source components, Vibex One 11R on amps, 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, LessLoss Firewall for loudspeakers, Furutech NCF Signal Boosters; Room: 6 x 8m with open door behind listening seat; Room treatment: 2 x PSI Audio AVAA C214 active bass traps
2nd system: Source: FiiO R7 into Soundaware D300Ref SD transport to Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe; Preamp/filter: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box 2; Amplifier: Kinki Studio EX-M7; Headamp: Cen.Grand Silver Fox; Loudspeakers: MonAcoustic SuperMon Mini + Dynaudio S18 sub; Power delivery: Furutech GTO 2D NCF, Akiko Audio Corelli; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Sundry accessories: Audioquest Fog Lifters; Furutech NFC Clear Lines; Room: ~3.5 x 8m
Desktop system: Source: HP Z230 work station Win10/64; USB bridge: Singxer SU-2; DAC: Sonnet Pasithea; Headamp: Kinki Studio THR-1; Speaker amp: Crayon CFA-1.2; Speakers: Acelec Model One Headphones: Final D-8000 & Sonorous X, Audeze LCD-XC, Raal-Requisite SR1a on Schiit Jotunheim R
Upstairs headfi system: FiiO R7, COS Engineering D1, Cen.Grand Silver Fox; Headphones: Raal 1995 Magna, Meze 109 Pro, Fiio FT3
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; All-in-One: Gold Note IS-1000 Deluxe; Loudspeakers: Zu Soul VI; Subwoofer: Zu Submission; Power delivery: Furutech eTP-8, Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail: €329

This is a short companion to my full-length review on aune's SR7000. That's the sealed variant which followed the earlier release of today's AR5000 open-backer. Our full-size circumaural with dual 3.5mm cable entries and oval pad opening contains a heavily angled 50mm multi-layer dynamic driver. That additionally vents through side slots so not just the perforated back. The build combines metal and plastic for a friendly 350g of wear weight and claims 28Ω/108dB at 1Vrms. At €329 it's a direct competitor to my FiiO FT3. That comparison was thus foregone conclusion. Possibly more interesting from a tekkie tack is contrast to the closed-back €639 stablemate. Would reality counter predictions of greater resolution and airiness for the open AR5000 whose prefix abbreviates Air Reference? At twice the coin and with a very different driver, my sibling rivalry certainly won't contrast raspberries and red currants; to give the old apples and oranges a well-deserved break. Still, coming from the same engineering team suggests some sense in such a juxtaposition. At the very least the conscientious shopper learns what spending twice or half puts on the table or leaves under it. For all-in-one amplification with integral streaming, my €699 FiiO R7 raised its hand as sane stand-in for a realistic match. Why take the measure on my €6'250 Enleum or big Cen.Grand gear? That only invokes ivory-tower syndrome. It's something reviewers can be guilty of. Occasionally it's hard to avoid when no price-matched ancillaries are on hand. In this instance I had just the stationary thing. For mobile use my €469 Shanling M3 Ultra is more sanity. aune's 3.5mm cable termination with 6.3mm adapter already suggests that a smartphone or DAP is how they expect most buyers will juice their AR5000. The more upscale SR7000 also gets a 4.4mm balanced cable to show higher ambitions.

Other than colour scheme and writing on the earcups, to me the overall appearance and cosmetics of both models looked identical in published photos. Only a physical inspection would show whether aside from different drivers and absorbers, half the coin actually buys less. Or is the overall concept of headband, cup design, cushions and suspension a shared platform? Since the AR5000 spent R&D on optimal fit and wear comfort already, it'd be sensible to transfer those bits intact to the second model. I also wondered whether I could tell apart plastic and metal. These days certain metal-finish plastics disguise well. I'm often down to the old nail tap to try to distinguish them. Weight too is telling. It simply doesn't break out a mixed build's various parts. The SR7000 is 40g heavier. On paper this perhaps suggests more metal, even if just heavier magnets? I wore my best sleuthing cap to try and answer questions on visible differences.