Aful SnowyNight
Intro
Hello, this is my full written review of the “Aful SnowyNight” from the very competent and highly competitive audio brand, “Aful Audio”. The SnowyNight is Aful’s first dongle dac/amp and was provided to me by another very highly competitive outfit… “Hifigo” in exchange for a written review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. The SnowyNight comes to us from an audio brand (Aful) that doesn’t seem to make mistakes, or at least does everything within the framework of their understanding and expertise to create products that truly compete for your dollar.
Aful Audio
This highly talented brand actually began their journey back in 2018 when they quickly began setting up their lab and by 2020 they had procured three patents! That’s saying something folks! By 2022 the Performer series was off the ground with the release of the Performer 5, followed shortly thereafter by the Performer 8, and after much R&D the MagicOne came to us. Talk about a startup. This company went from relative obscurity to one of the big players very quickly.
I’ve reviewed a couple of Aful’s products. The first review I completed was for the Aful MagicOne (MagicOne Review) and I couldn’t have been more impressed folks, truly a standard bearer for anyone seeking an iem that has a unique driver configuration and also… Sounds truly fantastic! A couple months later I was able to complete another review of the Aful Performer 8 (P8 Review). What a talented iem the P8 is?! Another highly competitive set. Aful also crafted the very well regarded Aful Performer 5 (Mahir’s P5 Review) which took on the $200-$300 price point and one I use regularly for comparisons.
Impressive
I’ve been very impressed by this brand folks, in truth… it’s hard not to. So often we are inundated with brands that seek out a “quick dollar” and pumped-up promises rather than being truly original, imaginative, and innovative. Like I said in my past reviews of Aful products, this is a brand that doesn’t seem to be okay with being the “status quo” within this vast rabbit hole of a hobby. I also realize that this is beginning to sound like a commercial for the brand, sorry-not sorry. I don’t mind giving praise to those who deserve it. Remember, this is all my own subjective thoughts and opinion. I think it’s about time we get into this review of the SnowyNight. I will try to answer “if” and “how” the SnowyNight is set apart in its respective price point as well as explain this product as best I can. Let’s get into it, the Aful SnowyNight everyone…
Non-Affiliated Purchasing links:
Disclaimer:
I received the Aful SnowyNight from HiFiGo in exchange for a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. This dongle dac is a sample device. HiFiGo has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to HiFiGo and thanks for reading.
SnowyNight Pros
-Price to performance
-Build Quality is premium, from the type-c cable to the unit itself
-Gorgeous design
-Improved USB type C cable for cleaner signal transmission
-Volume buttons, low/high gain, sound filters
-Comfortable volume steps
-Very low noise floor, black background for even sensitive iems
-Clean and resolving
-Very dynamic sound
-Balanced across the mix
-Nice neutral & smooth sound
-Punchy and decisive low-end
-Midrange has nice note weight
-Good extension both ways for a dongle dac
-Nice mix of musical and technically adept
-Nothing offensive added to my listening experience
SnowyNight Cons
-Not as technically crisp and detailed as some may like
-Not much explanation given for the sound filter operation
-I don’t find any other cons for me @ $109
Gear used for testing
Packaging / Accessories
The Aful SnowyNight showed up at my doorstep in a very small box, nothing grandiose, nothing wasteful, or over the top. Aful keeps it classy folks. Covering the black box is a sleeve with what looks like a line drawn picture of the SnowyNight with the name above it in block letters. On the back you’ll find some specs for the unit and that’s about it. Once you remove the sleeve, you’ll find a hard cardboard black box with a glossy black Aful logo in the center. Remove the box lid and you’re presented with the SnowyNight in all its beauty staring back at you. Surrounding the SnowyNight is the usb type-c data cable looking very premium. That was my first thought. This isn’t just another dongle dac folks, but more on that later. This is a non-wasteful and very simple unboxing, as it should be.
USB Type-C Cable
Usually, I wouldn’t create an extra section in my dongle reviews describing the type-c cable. However as far as Aful is concerned the type-c cable is actually a selling point. In this case, I do agree. The cable I’m referring to is a 6N Monocrystalline Copper Cable with what is said to have improved signal conductivity and power transmission from the usual OFC cables in the market. Aful was trying to figure out how to improve this weak point of the data chain, that’s when the light build went off.
Improved
Aful knows, just like most of us, that desktop style digital audio signal from coaxial transmission is better in terms of clean signal transmission compared to optical, and obviously better than USB (as seen in most dongle dac/amps). Again, this is the area that Aful sought out to try to improve to the best of their ability. A mobile & portable situation is how most of us will use the Aful SnowyNight. This transmission is created through the USB interface and Aful decided to try to mimic a coaxial/optical type sound as best they could as it is best to improve the connection at this integral point in the chain. In comes this new cable. Aful actually offers this type-c to type-c for Android and newer IOS devices, or the lightning port on IOS devices.
Better than standard cables
The cable provided in the packaging is a gorgeous cable, roughly 4 inches long, black fabric, and stainless-steel strain reliefs that do a wonderful job of making this cable feel premium. It’s the little touches and stylistic aesthetic stuff that can make something look either cheap or completely dope. Anyways, Aful professes to have achieved completely lossless transmission by improving the speed and accuracy of this point in the chain. With improved audio signal software and actual “hardware” improvements Aful has achieved improved “data packet loss” as well as “data delay” which Aful states is far superior to standard usb cables. Said to bring audible improvements in high frequency resolution and the sound field scale which Aful describes as very close to a coaxial or an optical signal.
Cable:-
Aful Promotional
We studied a lot of different portable and desktop audio setups, and we realised we needed to work on the source signal transmission to enhance the acoustic performance of SnowyNight. We noticed USB transmission is not the cleanest, and digital inputs such as Coaxial, Optical provided cleaner and better transmission in most cases. But in the case of portable USB DAC/AMPs, we get limited to only USB transmissions. So, to enhance the acoustic performance in such a scenario, we bundled the SnowyNight with an enhanced cable that brings noticeable improvements by stable signal transmission, USB Lossless transmission, and also protects the sound signal from external interferences. The cable has high-purity 6N monocrystalline copper wire cores. It effectively improves the overall performance of the SnowyNight and makes it comparable to Coaxial and Optical input options in other devices.
Specifications
Specs：-
– Name: SY01 or SnowyNight
– DAC Chip: 2xCirrus Logic CS43198
– PCM: 32bits-768KHz
– DSD: DSD256 DOP256
– USB Type: Type-C USB2.0
– Headphone interface: Dual Interface, 3.5 single-ended + 4.4 balanced
– Output frequency response range: 20HZ-20KHz
– Signal-to-noise ratio:
> 3.5 single-ended = 125dB
> 4.4 balanced = 130dB
– Noise floor:
> 3.5 single-ended = 1uV
> 4.4 balanced = 1.5uV
– Dynamic range:
> 3.5 single-ended = 125dB
> 4.4 balanced = 130dB
– Operating voltage range: 4.2V~5.3V
– Line output level:
> 3.5 Single-ended:
> Low gain = 1Vrms
> High gain = 2Vrms
> 4.4 Balanced:
> Low gain = 2Vrms
> High gain = 4Vrms
– THD+N:
> Single-ended = <0.00037%(1kHz@32Ω)
> Balanced = <0.00037%( 1kHz/-6dB@32Ω)
– Impedance: 32Ω
– Power output:
>3.5 single ended= 140mW
>4.4 balanced= 300mW
Build / Design / Internals
Build Quality
The build quality is obvious here folks. Certainly, up to the standard of a high quality and premium level dongle dac. Made of pure alloy, aluminum if I was guessing. I don’t see anywhere that this info is available as to exactly what the alloy is but just know that it feels very robust and solid in hand. I love the cold feel of alloy, it just gives off a strong feeling or a durable feel to me. On the front you’ll see a two-level design, skinnier closer to the usb-c connector and getting slightly fatter (roughly ⅛” fatter) about halfway down the device. At the fatter side on the SnowyNight, you’ll see a dual interface 3.5 single ended port as well as a 4.4 balanced port. Both offer secure connections. I have no fear of failure down the road. I have seen a lot of these dongle dacs and I feel that the SnowyNight is certainly built to the level of its price, without question.
Buttons
On the left side of the SnowyNight you’ll see “+” and “-” buttons representing “volume up” & “volume down”. The buttons give off a nice haptic feel when pushing them in. I love a good click folks. These buttons provide just that. These buttons actually do way more than I would’ve thought. Of course, you can change the volume of the device itself only (which is fantastic) by single presses in either direction. You can also control the low and high gain from the buttons (more later), change UAC1.0 or UAC2.0 and set different filter modes from the device.
Design
The SnowyNight has a very clean build with a lot of straight lines, 90 degree angles, and structurally sound all the way through. So the build is great. Also, the design of this unit is pretty sweet too, friends. The SnowyNight is all black yet on the topside of the unit is a sweet design of snowflakes covering half of the device, or the skinnier portion of the SnowyNight. This is actually the exact design pattern used on Aful’s beautiful MagicOne earphones. Together they look very sharp. In the middle of this design is the indicator light which is there to tell you all kinds of info (I’ll get to that later). However, the contrast in the design against the black of the unit itself is very classy and cool. On the other half of the SnowyNight is the name “Aful” with the words “Audio Engineering” under it. On the back of the unit you’ll see the device name “SnowyNight” with the audio transmission specs imposed like this: 32bit/768khz DSD256. I want to also state that the usb-c cable looks so rad attached with the stainless steel fittings. It hard to speak on something like this in the correct way without going too over the top but I really am impressed with both the build as well as the design aesthetic.
Internals
Inside of the Aful SnowyNight they added in two (dual) upgraded Cirrus Logic CS43198 deciding dac chips. It’s nice having dual chips of this quality and the differences are audible to me. The SnowyNight is capable of 32bit/768khz audio PCM transmission and DSD256 which is another feather in the hat of this little device. The Internals allow the SnowyNight to have output frequency ranges from 20hz to 20khz and an operating voltage from 4.2v to 5.3v.you get a great signal to noise ratio as I mentioned above in the “specs” section of 125db on 3.5 single ended and 130db on 4.4 balanced output. The SnowyNight also has dynamic ranges of the exact same numbers of 125db on 3.5 single ended and 130db balanced. This little device also has nice THD+N ratings of single ended= <0.00037%(1kHz@32Ω), Balanced= <0.00037%( 1kHz/-6dB@32Ω). Also, the SnowyNight is capable of some high output and driving power for a dongle dac. Maybe not unprecedented, and we have seen higher values for less but the SnowyNight can get up to 140mW @32ohms on single ended (high gain) and 300mW @32 ohms on 4.4 balanced (high gain). Folks, this is a talented device! Truly a competitor in the market.
High-End Dual DAC Chipset:-
We have equipped the SnowyNight with Dual CS43198 DAC chips. They support true high-resolution audio signal decoding supporting bitrates up to 32-bit/768kHz for PCM signals and DSD256 for native DSD signals. The high-end CS43198 DAC chips provide an extremely clear sound reproduction with best-in-class SNR, DNR, and THD+N performance. The SnowyNight has 125dB SNR through the 3.5mm port and 130dB SNR through the 4.4mm output port. We have a non-audible noise floor at 1uV(3.5mm), and 1.5uV(4.4mm).
Features
Low/High Gain
I’ve already spoken on this, but I figured it is a “feature” of the device so please just skip by if you must. Once again, the SnowyNight has the ability to switch between low and high gain from the left side volume +/- buttons. By simply tapping them both at the same time you can very easily and quickly change gain values on the unit itself. Again, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this, but it is a novelty in the market and great to see. How nice is it that I can quickly add or take away some of the output from this device? I’ll answer that, um…it’s really nice. All you need to do is press both the +/- buttons at the same time and the indicator light will blink letting you know that you did indeed change the gain level. The amount of gain is substantial enough to provide an obvious power gain or reduction and the change is immediate. Single ended low gain is 1vrm, and high gain is 2vrms while on balanced you get 2vrms on single ended and up to 4vrms on high gain. Very nice.
UAC1.0 / UAC2.0
Another nice thing you can do with the buttons is change from UAC1.0 to UAC2.0 and vice versa. All you have to do is hold the “+” button while the unit is powered off. Keep holding it and plug the SnowyNight in your phone, dap, tablet, computer through the usb-c port and wait until the red indicator light flashes. Once you see that just let go and you’ve switched to the desired mode. So, the buttons work somewhat like multifunction buttons as well as their obvious use. By the way, I adore this button setup. Being able to switch UAC1.0 & UAC2.0 at the device is huge for many folks who are gamers etc. For instance, my son would certainly need this operation for his Nintendo Switch and other devices he has which would otherwise not make any sound at all. This isn’t necessarily groundbreaking as we’ve seen it in the past, but it is not the norm and very easy to operate with the SnowyNight. Another nice job Aful!
Filter modes
The Aful SnowyNight also comes with up to five different PCM pulse filter response modes. I don’t know what each one is yet as this info has not come out, or at least I haven’t seen it yet. I will edit this review later when I do know. Anyways, to change filters all you have to do is hold down the +/- together for over 1 second to activate the next filter. To be honest, these filters never radically change much, but with a very discerning ear you can spot subtle tonality shifts and transient behaviors. It’s something nice to have rather than not. Also, some of you may be able to tell the difference easier than others. I was able to notice the slightest differences, but it isn’t enough to really get excited about. It’s a good feature though.
Driving Power
As far as driving power, the Aful SnowyNight has more than enough output power to drive most any iem out there. Having upwards of 140mW and 2vrms on single ended is actually quite a lot actually and really shines on any of my iems. I don’t have any beefy over ears to test so please forgive me for that. Of course, I listen almost e tiredly on balanced mode using the 4.4 port and again, the driving power is up to 300mW and 4vrms on high gain. This means that there really isn’t any iem that is going to be a chore to drive. I no longer have my Final Audio E5000 to test the ability for the SnowyNight to drive such a set and so again, forgive me. All I can test with at the moment is my iems. That said, on balanced listening the SnowyNight should be able to drive a vast amount of over ear headphones. Of course, you have to be somewhat reasonable as to how well you expect a small dongle to be able to push your high impedance cans.
Sound Impressions
Note: All critical listening impressions are based after roughly 50 hours of playtime (give or take). This review was conducted while listening to flac or better files which are stored on my devices. I mainly used the three earphones I mention below but I also used many others during the course of my time with the S9 Pro Plus.
It was a good sign to see the dual dac chips implemented in the Aful SnowyNight as well as the good amount of driving power on hand all for the low cost of $109. Folks, this is a nice setup. For instance, the exact same chips are used in the Aune Yuki which would run you a cool $169 so, the price is certainly a huge “Pro” for anyone looking for a solid dongle dac. There are a couple others with this arrangement as well and they all perform pretty well. Of course, dac chips are not the only variable deciding on how a thing sounds. Also, the SnowyNight still has to actually sound good and compete sonically for your dollar. No worries, folks, the Aful SnowyNight sounds very good for the price. Certainly, the SnowyNight will turn your smartphone, tablet, or however you choose to use this dongle into a great hi-res portable listening device.
Great for the price
The first thing I noticed about this dongle, which honestly set it apart from the other dongle dacs that I have on hand, is that the sound is very open and musical, closer to neutral with the most subtle shades of low-end warmth and smoothness. It has a nice 3-dimensional spatiality as the SnowyNight forms a more holographic type of presentation to me. Smoother rather than edgy or coarse, like some ESS type dac chips. No odd timbre artifacts or metallic timbre but a more naturally neutral sound with natural note weight. There is a delicate intricacy to note definition and effortless musicality, yet not so much to drown out details or clarity and never harsh. You also won’t hear any exaggerated peaks with iems which are borderline shouty themselves. It also won’t magnify or overemphasize the low-end either but instead reinforce these regions with natural dynamics and great timbre. Basically, the SnowyNight will not color your iems or over ears in any direction. Like I said, mostly neutral with subtle shades of warmth. Note definition is very nice although slightly less transparent than some dongle dacs which offer a drier presentation. I consider this a good thing. The SnowyNight is not dry or analytical and does offer a good note body with density to each note. Extension is pretty nice both ways with pretty nice dynamic range which extends the stage in an open and 3d manner. To me this is one of the better sounding dongle dacs priced near $100 that I’ve heard.
Sound between the 20’s
Bass Region
The bass doesn’t color the low-end of any of the sets I’ve tested with it. You can tell this on Aful’s own “Aful MagicOne” as the SnowyNight takes an otherwise pretty laid-back bass region of the MagicOne and simply gives it a more concentrated punch. At least from something like the Moondrop Dawn 4.4. Honestly the bass does come across a hair denser than on less quality sources. Not to the degree of my Shanling M6 Ultra or more expensive sources but this should be expected. I found the SnowyNight can dig pretty deep with good extension into the lowest of lows and plenty of haptic rumble when paired with a rumbly set. However, I do feel that the SnowyNight isn’t necessarily adding any real color to the region. A non-bassy set is not going to all of a sudden “bang” in your ears. There is perhaps a slight emphasis. However, what this device does do considerably well is adds a clean note structure and note density.
The bass region is not the warmest I’ve ever heard and so you won’t have to worry about the Yanyin Canon II (for example) becoming warmer or muddier in the bass region than it already is. In fact, I found the SnowyNight to clean up this region with a concrete note body and nicely tight attack thru sustain for a $109 dongle dac. Clean, tight, defined, extended well and punchy with enough slam and grunt. Not overdone though. Again, this device is not going to add extra emphasis except a slight lift in the sub-bass area. For the price (this is key) I find that the SnowyNight really does compliment most sets that I use.
Midrange
The SnowyNight has a midrange that is slightly more forward, but not to a fault as vocalists sound well composed and with good presence. Surely this is a talented little device, and the midrange is a huge key to that. Vocals of both males and females have a very nice presence in the mix. They are smooth all the time but also there is a dash of controlled vibrancy which never spills over into glare. Unless of course you are listening with a set which runs a bit hot. Once again, the SnowyNight is not going to color your iems or headphones in any which way, but it will add a black background and good clarity with a feeling of openness and dynamics. The SnowyNight isn’t going to cause fatigue or add any elements of sharpness or shout either. I hear a very well controlled and resolute midrange. Again, I hear natural note weight, not thin, not thick but natural, with an underlying vibrance which coaxes fewer dynamic sets to feel a bit more engaging in that regard.
Musicality
However, the most impressive part of the midrange to me is the musicality in this region without losing out on the subtleties or micro-details. SnowyNight has a concentrated note framework or body. It also has a balanced potrayal of “technical meets melodious” or “mellifluousness say hello to precision”. I should also point out that it’s difficult to slap the “musical” buzzword on a source device when each and every iem or over-ear can affect just how “musical” this source device actually is. I’m speaking in generalities garnered through the many hours of experiential listening using many sets attached to the SnowyNight. It’s more musical (in general) with a midrange that has very nice macro-dynamics and a pleasingly organic timbre.
I also hear very good space between instruments and vocals giving each element of the stage room to exist, or room to breathe. The SnowyNight achieves all of this while also coming across smoothened and wave-like. Again, never colored so much to be perceived as harsh or knife-edged at the crest of midrange notes. I really like this dual CS43198 dac chip setup. They provide an almost analogue neutrality with only the slightest shades of warmth. Enough to conjure the perception of body. Depending (of course) on what is attached to the SnowyNight. There’s also well-defined depth for layering and good clarity. Also, the smoothness is a nice buffer, and that sense of body is persistent across the midrange. Never really bright as the SnowyNight never crossed that line while maintaining a subtle warm/neutral tonal color. It’s simply nice folks.
Treble Region
The treble is the same as the rest of the frequency with a smoothly refined sound. The SnowyNight treble is extended nicely with a sweeter disposition and naturally delicate timbre. This is not an oversaturated treble region and certainly isn’t harsh or peaky. The SnowyNight doesn’t have any undue brightness that is going to embellish your already bright sounding sets. For instance, the Simgot EA1000 didn’t all of a sudden become harsh up top to my ears. I found the SnowyNight has treble notes which may be perceived as slightly blunted rather than crisp. Not that the SnowyNight has anything to be ashamed of either. That said, I don’t feel the SnowyNight treble region lacks in the details department either. Resolution is quite nice from what I can tell, and detail retrieval seems to be very nice across the iems I used for testing.
Technicalities
Soundstage
The soundstage is very wide and tall with evident depth. This is a holographic sounding stage with a vaster and more immersive feel to it. Obviously, your iems or headphones will have a lot to say about this, but I don’t feel that SnowyNight takes anything away from any set I listened to. In fact, the SnowyNight was only a benefit in this regard. So, the stage is pretty vast and wider than average, tall, and with great depth of the sound field. Please trust that not every dongle dac can add a sense of space like this. Also, the SnowyNight does have some competition that also has a nice sized stage as well. This isn’t the only device performing this way. Still, I was immediately impressed by this device.
Separation / Imaging
I can’t stress enough that when reviewing a source device all I can truly speak on is how the SnowyNight will add or take away from your iems or over-ears sound signature. But, for the most part the SnowyNight seems to have fantastic spacing between elements of a stage. Yes, it is a smoother sounding dongle dac but it really doesn’t take away from how well Aful was able to create a sense of air and openness and well-defined sound images in my mind. Imaging follows suit with awesome imaging for a $100 dongle dac. I heard no obvious issues. All the SnowyNight has ever been a benefit to any set I used.
Detail Retrieval
Again, the SnowyNight has a refined, clean, naturally resolved but smooth note definition and timbre. Notes are a bit more blunted and not knife edged or crisp and so one would think that this would detract from the SnowyNight’s ability to resolve the finer details in your music. I suppose to an extent this is true and certainly there is better resolving dongle dacs for the price. However, SnowyNight is actually very nice in this regard. Again, the SnowyNight has a very good mixture of musical and technical to my ears.
Downsides to the sound of the Aful SnowyNight
If I were to come up with some drawbacks of the Aful SnowyNight there would only be a couple minor subjective qualms that some folks may have. I don’t, let’s just make that clear. I really enjoy this device. Anyways, the sound is smoother, it’s clean and it’s resolute but that smoothness is a hair more rounded which takes away some of the crispness which would ultimately be defined as… Details. Not that you lose much but you do have to be conscious of what you pair with this device. Also, for those who want a beefier low-end source, or for those who want a warmer source with even meatier note weight, you won’t necessarily find that here. Of course, whatever iem or headphone you use will also have its say about this aspect of listening. Still, the general tonality of the SnowyNight is closer to neutral with tighter transient shifts and very nice agility which comes across a bit leaner. Lean-lush rather than “lush”. That’s it, nothing else sound wise that I could point out as an issue.
Pairings
Note: I will make these short and speak in very general terms as I won’t go into crazy detail about each iem pairing that I used. I went back and forth on even adding this section, but I chose sets that I used the most while critically listening to the SnowyNight. Now, I actually used many more sets during this time, but these are the four which garnered the most of my attention and to me sounded the best. These are in no particular order. Again, I’ll keep this short as there really isn’t a whole lot to say.
Aful MagicOne
Anyone who has used the Aful MagicOne (MagicOne Review) knows that this is a very hard iem to drive properly and to good fidelity. The MagicOne only has one full frequency BA under its hood but replays the entire mix wonderfully. I truly love and adore this set. One thing I know is the MagicOne is a chameleon of sorts, as to which source you use. As far as this pairing, you would think Aful made the SnowyNight just for the MagicOne because together they simply sing. You have the warmth of the MagicOne and the warm/neutral sound of the SnowyNight and it’s just dreamy. The SnowyNight tightens and cleans up the entire mix of the MagicOne in my opinion much better than other less quality dongle dacs. The MagicOne has a prevailing warmth which covers the mix and the SnowyNight does a great job of contrasting that warmth. The SnowyNight doesn’t color the sound to any great degree at all but instead just cleans, tightens, adds natural note weight and enough driving power to awaken that harder to drive single balanced armature driver.
Simgot EA1000
The Simgot EA1000 is semi particular as to what you pair it with. I feel a dynamically warm to warm/neutral pairing is nice with this set, among a few other factors. Which brings us to the synergy between the EA1000 and the Aful SnowyNight. I feel the EA1000 sounds very good on almost everything, but the SnowyNight seems to make it a hair cleaner lined and controlled. One thing I was happy to hear is that the EA1000’s warm/neutral tonality didn’t all of a sudden become unbearably shouty attached to this device. Of course, I didn’t expect that but, you never know. In more glaring and shouty tracks the SnowyNight didn’t embellish upon the EA1000’s bright spots in its frequency, but in fact made a very nice duo. Another fact, I liked the EA1000 paired with the SnowyNight better than my iBasso DX240 by quite a wide margin. All about synergy folks. The EA1000 sounds very refined as is but I love the smoother textured pinpoint control and black background.
Yanyin Canon II
The Yanyin Canon II is truly one of the best iems between $300 and $400. Just an awesome iem. I actually reviewed this set last year (Canon II Review) and fell absolutely in love with its fun, dynamic and clean presentation of my music. Paired to the SnowyNight didn’t change much, it just sounded nice. I suppose if there is any one area that the SnowyNight obviously outperformed other devices, I would say that would be the bass region. I’m speaking “obvious” here folks. It was obvious to me that the bass was obviously tighter than something like the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus, Fiio KA3, Moondrop Dawn 4.4 etc. Also, there is a density to this device in the bass range without over emphasizing it and very good extension down low and this is something that is noticeable to me. Also, there was a slight reduction of detail retrieval in the name of a non-offensive and smoother sound. I was okay with that. It sounds awesome. Of course, it isn’t the easiest thing going back and forth between devices, just trust me in that. The comparison section next was a “time chewer”. Anyways, tonalities pair together well between the Canon II and the SnowyNight and again, the sound just comes across cleaner.
Fiio FH9
One of my favorite iems that didn’t get enough praise, the Fiio FH9 (FH9 Review). The FH9 has a warmer sound and so the SnowyNight really did a marvelous job paired with it. There are a few things that I noticed. First, the bass tightened up even more than it already is and gave the bass very nice definition. Second, this is already a smooth set, but the SnowyNight just reinforced this without losing any clarity, definition, resolution or details. Not enough to speak on anyways. The clarity is outstanding for a $100 device and the dynamics turned an otherwise more laid-back sound into a set with a little cleaner pep. Obviously, there is more expensive gear that will outperform this dongle dac or “any” dongle dac for that matter. Still, in the realm of this portable type of listening, the Aful SnowyNight was a nice pairing with the Fiio FH9.
Final thoughts on pairing
Like I said, I really questioned even putting this in the review because there are so many factors which can alter the sound of an iem. Also, it isn’t the easiest thing to describe in this format. It’s something which you really have to listen to yourself and so I don’t know how helpful this was to you. Basically, I don’t know how beneficial it is to the consumer. Anyways, at the end of the day I feel the Aful SnowyNight pairs very well with multiple different tonalities in general. The sound is very neutral with just a hint of warmth and so that is a great starting point in my mind for a device which won’t really color your iems or headphones all that drastically. I honestly heard nothing that I thought was a negative as far as pairings goes with any of my iems, not just the sets i included in this review. To be honest, I really consider the SnowyNight as almost a chameleon which really just lets my iems be what they are.
Comparisons
Note: I will be very brief in these comparisons. I want to keep my word count down for the algorithm and so I will use very general verbiage when describing these differences. All comparison testing was done with the same set of earphones listening to the same tracks for an extended period of time.
Moondrop Dawn 4.4 ($69)
The Moondrop Dawn 4.4 is a very capable dongle dac and one of my price to performance favorites. The Dawn 4.4 utilizes dual CS43131 dac chips and has enough power for most any iem and even some over-ears with 230mW @32 ohms. There is a lot the Dawn 4.4 does right, and I have thoroughly enjoyed this little guy.
Differences
First thing you’ll notice is that the Dawn 4.4 is a cylindrically shaped dongle dac whereas the SnowyNight is obviously not. Both are built very well but the SnowyNight has some huge advantages. For one, the Dawn 4.4 has a fixed cable of questionable quality while the SnowyNight has that amazing type-c detachable cable. Also, the SnowyNight actually has volume / multi-purpose buttons as well. I feel the indicator light is much better on the SnowyNight too as the Dawn’s indicator light is barely visible and tiny in comparison. As far as design, the SnowyNight is simply better. Unless you like stark white devices with no real artistic flare. The SnowyNight has low/high gain on the device itself as well as the ability to add or take away volume, search through sound filters etc. Also, the Dawn 4.4 only has a 4.4 port. Hence the name “Moondrop Dawn 4.4”. Lastly, there is a justified price difference between the two as the Dawn 4.4 comes in at a cool $69. Of course, Moondrop does make an app (IOS & Android) which is fantastic, something the SnowyNight doesn’t have.
Sound Differences
To start, the SnowyNight has better driving power on 4.4 balanced by a wide margin of roughly about 70mW at 32ohms. Both devices have great timbre, but the SnowyNight has a more natural and dense note weight with a smoother overall signature. The Dawn takes an analytical approach with a dryer and more technically adept sound. Details are a pinch easier to discern on the Dawn but with less enjoyable timbre for me. The SnowyNight sounds better extended with better dynamic range to my ears, it has more profuse macro-dynamics and it simply has better musicality. To my ears the SnowyNight is better in almost all regards. Wider stage, just as clean a background, better note weight, even less harsh at times. I’d say that SnowyNight is definitely the more refined of the two with better extension both ways. Deeper and more dense bass, more melodic midrange and a more resolute and shimmery treble.
Further thoughts on this comparison
At the end of the day, it will all come down to what you prefer. I wanted to add in devices that I feel are some of the best you can buy at slightly lower prices as I do feel it helps the consumer. The Moondrop Dawn 4.4 is a special device, but it is lacking basic stuff. The non-detachable cable kind of stinks and the lack of a 3.5 single ended output is also a strike against it. However, the Dawn 4.4 does compete sonically quite well. It simply isn’t as controlled, and the dynamic range suffers in comparison to the SnowyNight. Still, like I said it all comes down to your pocketbook. Certainly, I feel the price difference is worth the SnowyNight but both provide fantastic sound.
Hidizs S9 Pro Plus ($89)
The Hidizs S9 Pro Plus “Martha” is one of my favorite dongles under $100. This is one which has gotten a whole lot of play time since my review during the fourth quarter of 2023 (S9 Pro Plus Review). The S9 Pro Plus comes with an ES9038Q2M dac chip and decent driving power of 138mW @32 on 3.5 single ended and 180mW @32 on 4.4 balanced. Truly a performer that I enjoy having in my collection.
Differences
These two devices are much more similar than the last comparison. Both devices are about the same size, but the S9 Pro Plus is a bit fatter and thicker. Both devices are really dope looking in my opinion. They also both are rectangular with a nice design. Truthfully, I don’t know which I like better as far as build and design is concerned. The S9 Pro Plus has an aluminum chassis and glass back and front plates while the SnowyNight is an all-alloy affair. Both are fantastic for their respective prices. Both have removable cables although I do feel the SnowyNight’s cable is of better quality. One thing that both have in common is volume and multi-use +/- buttons. Hidizs crafted theirs to appear like little volume wheels but of course they are only buttons. The S9 Pro Plus has less-rigid buttons which are much larger and a more haptic click when pressing. The only other big difference is that the S9 Pro Plus is sold for around $89 while for $20 more (give or take) you can get the SnowyNight.
Sound Differences
Both sets have a slight warmth but cater to a mostly neutral tonal color. Perhaps the S9 Pro Plus is a hint warmer but that is seriously up for debate. The S9 Pro Plus has a beefier mid-bass but with a less defined note definition. The SnowyNight comes across cleaner, better separated and with a tighter yet still very satisfying slam. However, the SnowyNight has a denser and deeper extension into the sub-bass with better clarity. Honestly, clarity is better across the mix on the SnowyNight. The midrange performance of both devices is more forward and great for vocalists. I do feel that the SnowyNight has better midrange separation with a slightly more lean-lush note weight with a denser and more solidified note structure. Details are nice on both midranges, but the SnowyNight does bring out the subtle stuff a bit easier. The treble region has better extension on the SnowyNight and it also comes across more shimmery and has better control over the treble. These are very subtle differences folks. Technically I find the SnowyNight has tighter transients, better detail retrieval by a small margin but both devices have similar stage presentations. Both are great but the price increase is justified in my opinion.
Further thoughts on this comparison
Folks, I really enjoy both of these devices. For $89 it’s hard to find anything flat-out “better” than the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus. It is a sweet looking device and has some great functionality too with one of the best builds in any price point. However, the Aful SnowyNight exists at only $20 more which, if you can afford it, I feel it’s warranted.
Is it worth the asking price?
When I found out that Aful was creating a dongle dac I knew it would be a well-developed and solid product. Like I said near the intro, this isn’t a company who seeks to simply make a quick buck. The Aful SnowyNight embodies this standard through-n-through. I hate to say something punches above its price but in the case of the SnowyNight it is an easy conclusion to draw. Especially when there is the Aune Yuki costing roughly $60 more but with the exact same dual dac setup and also, the SnowyNight has better driving power. In fact, the SnowyNight has almost the same output power on single ended as the Yuki does on balanced. Not to mention the SnowyNight is almost twice as powerful on balanced. Not that driving power is everything but… it’s something. Obviously, there are other factors that set a device such as the Yukk apart, or not. Also, the Yuki comes equipped with some other Internals which help to justify its price so please don’t think I’m saying they are equal. Anyways, Hifigo has this device for $109 and I’m sure there will be sales for even less. Without question, 1000% the Aful SnowyNight is easily worth the $109 that Hifigo is asking.
The Why…
The reason why the Aful SnowyNight is worth the amount of $109 is because it could’ve been sold for even more. First off, the addition of the type-c 6N cable is a big plus. Also, the build quality is so blatantly obvious. Folks, this is a well built and solidly structured device. The onboard buttons and basic functionality of the dongle itself comes with no hiccups whatsoever either. However, it’s the immersive and engaging sound quality that sets this device apart in my opinion. I’ve had too many dongle dacs to list here folks. Ranging from $40 to $250 and honestly, the Aful SnowyNight is my favorite. I’m just going to put that out there. Also, it’s just my opinion. Still, the sound has a wonderful timbre with great dynamics and impressive musicality. Notes are clean with really great definition and the overall listen has some good resolution. In some regards the SnowyNight is even comparable to some of the mid-tier daps I’ve tried.
Conclusion
To conclude my full written review of the Aful SnowyNight, I want to thank HiFiGo. You can find the SnowyNight HERE (Non-Affiliated). I’ve had a great time reviewing this device as it has been quite a nice experience. I do feel that the SnowyNight can stand up to just about any set in its price point with relative ease and I also feel that $109 is a fantastic price. I personally recommend this device and hope to see some of you rockin’ it in the near future. It’s nice folks.
Different perspectives
As I always do in each and every review, I must ask you to please check out other thoughts about the Aful SnowyNight from other reviewers as it’ll help you to make a purchasing decision. $109 is a lot of money to many people and so I do hope you’ll do your homework. We are all very different friends. We have different gear, music libraries, likes and friends, and we haven’t all been down the same journey in audio. Take the time to research a bit and you’ll be better for it. I think this review is about done so please take care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!
