AR9000

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, 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 & mono NC500 Nord Acoustic amps 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: FiiO R7 into Soundaware D300Ref SD transport to Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Preamp/filter: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box 2; Amplifier: Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos; Loudspeakers: sound|kaos Vox3awf; Subwoofer: Zu Method; 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 & Audalytic DR70; Preamp: Topping A900; Speaker amps: Topping B200 monos; Headphone amp: Enleum AMP-23R; Loudspeakers: Virtual Hifi Viper; Headphones: Final D-8000, aune SR7000, FiiO FT7, HifiMan Susvara Unveiled
2nd upstairs headfi system: Shanling EM7; Headphones: Meze 109 Pro, Fiio FT3, HifiMan HE1000 Unveiled
2nd upstairs speaker system: Source: smsl PL200T CD transport, 1TB microSD; DAC: Shanling EM7; Crossover: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box II;  Amplifiers: LAIV Crescendo Chorus monos; 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: Zu Mission; Power delivery: Furutech eTP-8, Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail in EU: €1'499 [incl. VAT, ex shipping]

In May 2025 I asked. Where does the high in high-end end? "In the wake of HighEnd Munich 2025, one might wonder indeed. Thus far aune of China have positioned themselves with products below €1'000/ea. In Munich they teased two new models, the AR9000 flagship open-backed dynamic headphone; and the 12wpc A17 amp with 40'000µF filter capacitance, 50/100mA class A bias options and Muses R2R volume. I use their 'lesser' AR5000, SR7000 and S17 Pro Evo siblings which all ace their friendly ask. Now brand fans are aching. What prices will attach to the new crop once those drop? That these are more ambitious efforts is apparent to all. That flagging down a real ship not lifeboat must demand a stiffer tariff should be just as. The question on people's minds eyeing these novelties is how much more aune will ask. My guess is ~€1'500/ea. In high-end terms that doesn't even get us into the ritzy 'hood never mind within eyesight of its HQ. In aune terms however, more than doubling their previous ask would be a bold move to signal two inbound admirals, not mere captains at sea. That's what a maritime flagship used to signify after all. The navy's boss was aboard. Will the AR9000 and A17 be boss in their respective sectors? Time will tell. Until then the betting lines are open on the fiscal positioning. I'm not worried. Having reviewed three aune products, each was value. I very much doubt the same team would abandon focus and go berserk just because elsewhere Munich showed how to."

With nearly a year having passed since I wrote the above, mid March 2026 curiosity led me down the usual virtual corridors. At 4'29"—that's four hours and twenty-nine minutes into it—HeadFi's CanJam preview showed an actual AR9000 production sample. Yet even in-the-know Jude Mansilla still had no pricing or detailed specs. Whilst by then aune's site had a 'coming soon' teaser, all it said was "custom 50mm dynamic driver; omni-stack carbon diaphragm; contour-optimized surround; patented magnetic circuit; ultra-linear excursion; optimized rear-venting and airflow management; exceptionally low distortion across all frequencies and all listening levels."

10 months past last year's Munich sighting, final specs and ask remained speculation. All grasshoppers know patience. Given my SR7000 fondness—I wear it in all my podcasts—I was admittedly just about out by then. Yet my factory contact Shelly Chen had an update: "Actually, we've been telling people ~$1'500 at shows but the final price has not been fixed yet so great guess. A week ago we showed the latest AR9000 version at CanJam NYC. People were so happy about it, including those who experienced previous versions before. It's even better now. Hopefully it'll come out in one or two months. Stay tuned!" Clearly aune had massaged the design's voicing since last year's Munich show and tried out sundry tunings on attendees across various public events. "NYC CanJam was the 9th major revision, with many minor iterations along the way." April/June for the final-final release? I'd be a very crispy grasshopper by then; a protein treat in the right parts of the world.

June 25th. Post Vienna High-End 2026, my contact Shelly thanked me for a plug on their active desktop speaker which then booked a formal review. I took the opportunity to inquire about the A9000: "I was surprised by how little press coverage the A9000 received after the show even though I saw that it was there. Is that release still delayed?" "Yes, still fine-tuning. Hopefully it can release within a month. We'll see." That sounded somewhat non-committal. Apparently aune continued to use international tradeshows to generate visitor feedback to reshape their tuning from one event to the next. I learnt a long time ago that we can't ever make everyone happy. We must execute our own vision, take a stand then let the chips fall. Was the AR9000 chasing the impossible? "Not really. We have our own idea about the tuning and mainly march towards that. It's just that we also listen to people. But now it's finally finalized." That note came down the pike July 2nd. "We are now working on the AR9000 strategy which isn't finalized. So I cannot promise you a delivery date but will definitely try my best to get you a pair!" Strategy seemed code for the launch party's invite list. It made perfect sense that headfi's A-list reviewers would have schedule priority to help shape a strategic product reveal across multiple influential platforms including ever-popular YouTube. Would my name merely slide down into that list's C ranks to play written-word afterburner; or drop off entirely into the reject bin? I'd have to bank on Shelly to bat on my behalf. By late July, aune launched this promo video.