Aful Performer 8S Review 

Intro 

Hello, this review and feature covers the latest from the audio brand Aful Audio, named the Aful Performer 8S ($343). Of course, the Performer 8S is the successor to the very well-known Performer 8. Now, the Performer 8S is a very ambitious offering from Aful, featuring a tribrid setup (or “quadbrid” if you count the passive radiator as a driver) featuring eight drivers in total and one true passive radiator. To be exact, that’s one dynamic driver, six balanced armature drivers, one micro-planar, and one passive radiator. That’s a mouthful folks, er… a shell full. Once again, this set has a ton of new and purposeful changes from one of the more famous and also one of the more polarizing iems of the last few years…the Aful Performer 8. I actually had the pleasure of reviewing the original Performer 8 a few years ago (Performer 8 Review) and found it to be highly technical, exceptionally detailed, airy, and very energetic, but also a bit too glaring at times too. Granted, after a bit of brain burn that brightness all but goes away for me. However, it appears that Aful sought to correct some old P8 issues with the Performer 8S. I’ve actually had the 8S with me for a few weeks now (day in and day out) and I can confidently say that most of those subtle issues are gone. 

Aful

Folks, Aful is only 8 years old! I was not expecting to read that. I suppose I forgot as I’ve conducted a few other Aful reviews and probably already spoke on that. However, for a brand to be as achieved and lauded as they have been you’d think that Aful would have 25 years under their belt. It was 2018 when Aful first began, in China, and they came with an unusually bold and refreshing outlook “only real progress in technology can bring tangible benefits to the consumer”. Friends, I can say with absolute assurance that Aful has lived up to that perspective/statement. In fact, Aful itself positions itself more as an acoustic R&D driven Hifi brand rather than some run-of-the-mill consumer electronics company. It wasn’t until just past 2020 when all of their hard work paid off and we (the consumer) saw their first array of releases. Ever since then, we’ve seen set after set garnering solid praise, and I don’t feel that is going to end anytime soon. Not when you have a team of individuals who are smart, creative, and have such a keen drive for new acoustic inventions. 

Aful cont… 

I try to find the good in every brand that I review a product of. Sometimes it’s a difficult task to find a positive silver lining with these brands. However, there are about 10-15 brands that I have a good bit of respect for. Of course, these brands could care less what I think, but I like a review to be more than a quick synopsis of a product. I like to give props where props are due. After all, it’s the people behind these brands who do the work while we reap the benefit from their efforts. Giving these brands props and praise is not something I am going to stop doing anytime soon. Especially Aful. I have been absolutely impressed with the work this brand has done. Friends, the Aful MagicOne (MagicOne Review) was one set that I was sure that I wasn’t going to review. Until I heard them. Instantly the MagicOne and its lone balanced armature driver displaced all of my notions of how a solo BA driver can sound. Especially for under $100. I think what draws my praise the most is that Aful never takes on a project without some sort of new tech or some new advancement. Always preceded by original patents. Folks, Aful was recognized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences for crying out loud. That would be for their (quite awesome) S&E Math tech among other notable contributions to the audio world. There’s actually too much for me to jot down here but I’m sure you all know where to find that info if you are interested. However, I am personally very impressed by Aful thus far. Who wouldn’t be? Below are a handful of Aful products that I’ve featured. Feel free to check them out. 

Aful MagicOne  /  Aful Performer 8  /  Aful SnowyNight  /  Aful Explorer  /  Aful Polarnight 

Competition 

One of the greatest hurdles for the Performer 8S isn’t a tuning problem/issue, it won’t be a fit issue, a price-to-performance issue, or even the cost of this set. In my mind, the biggest hill the 8S has to climb is the fact that many amazing iems of all different driver configurations are priced similarly. Without question. As with any product nowadays, the Performer 8S’s success lands squarely on your shoulders and whether you find “other iems” more worthy of your hard-earned dollar, or do you find the 8S to be more worthy of your dollar? I’m not going to name them all, but there are a number of very solid offerings under $400. Sets like the Xenns Mangird Tea Pro, Kiwi Ears Astral, the Ziigaat Luna, Ziigaat Horizon, Dunu X-Gizaudio DaVinci, CatchEar CE6T, Thieaudio Hype 4, Punch Audio Martilo, Moondrop X-Crinacle Dusk, and one of my absolute favorite iems in this range, the Kinera Nott Phantom, among many-many others. Friends, I didn’t even add in the planar sets, or even the single DD sets. Furthermore, what makes this even more difficult for a set costing $343 is the iems which are darn near as polished yet cost a lot less. Sets like the Simgot SuperMix4, SuperMix5, Ziigaat Arete II, Ziigaat Odyssey 2, Dunu DN142 and the list goes on and on. Listen folks, I’m just going to be real with you (as always), you absolutely can find many iems which get you very close in many ways to what the Performer 8S can do. To add to that, there’s a high possibility that the tuning of the 8S doesn’t even fit you. I will try to break that down as best I can. After all, these reviews are always primarily about you and whether the product that I’m featuring makes sense for your life or not. That said, I’ve babbled long enough and I’m ready to get this thing moving. So, without further ado, the Aful Performer 8S… 

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:

–HiFiGo

–Amazon (HiFiGo)

Gear used for testing 

–Shanling UP6

–Shanling UA6 

–Ifi Go Blu

–Hiby W4

–Surfans X10 

–Hidizs S9 Pro Plus  

–Shanling UA7

–Shanling H0

–Hidizs AP80 Pro Max 

–Fiio JM21 

–Hiby R3 Pro II

–Hiby R6 Pro II 2025 

–Shanling M1 Plus

–IBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2 

–Shanling M6 Ultra 

Packaging / Accessories 

Unboxing (Spoilers) 

The Aful Performer 8S arrived at my home in a fairly large black box covered in a colorful (autumn colors) sleeve which carries a nice picture of the 8S on the front and some specs on the back. A nice-looking box. Fitting of a mid-fi set. Anyways, take off the sleeve and you’ll find a black box with “Aful” written in the center. Take off the lid of the box and straight away you’ll see the 8S on the left side of the box, sitting in foam cut-outs and you’ll see the carrying case on the right side. I won’t go much deeper into the unboxing because I know you all like to see the package for yourself. However, also inside of the box contents you’ll find the cable, silicone plugs and mesh stickers (I’ll explain later), an iem cleaning tool, as well as a large selection of eartips. I find the unboxing pretty good. Not great, but good. Definitely fitting of a mid-fi set and nothing to complain about at all. Aful typically does a nice job in presenting their products. 

Eartips

Altogether Aful provides a total of nine pairs of eartips over three styles of tips. Definitely a nice thing to see. However, I would have liked to see some different types of tips as all the tips provided have a smaller bore size. At any rate, still nice to see as many as Aful added into the packaging. The first set of three (S, M, L) are some dark gray silicone tips with a red stem, semi firm flange, narrow bore, longer too. You can find these tips for relatively cheap online. The next set of three (S, M, L) are white silicone tips with an orange stem, narrow bore, longer as well. Lastly, Aful added in three pairs (S, M, L) of white silicone eartips with a white stem, also a narrow bore. Friends, I think that these eartips are usable and good for another iem, but not for the Performer 8S. Not for me anyway. I really feel that the 8S benefits from something with a wider bore and so I decided to go with a pair of white silicone/black stem KBear 07 type semi-wide bore eartips. Believe me, I checked so many eartips folks. Yes, I checked the usual big hitter eartips which are hyped to the moon, but these semi-wide bore cheap eartips sounded the best. They made the bass harder edged, crispy, more punch to kicks and the upper mids became much more open without causing undue glare. We are all very different and so I implore you to find what eartips works for you and your preferences. Having said that, the included tips aren’t bad by any stretch. The only thing I’d say is this; it’d be good for these brands to add in different “types” of tips. At least different bore sizes. Having nine pairs of “narrow bore” eartips doesn’t seem to really synergize as well as I’d like. Still, getting nine pairs of solid enough tips is a good thing. 

Carrying Case 

Aful also added in a nice carrying case which is to be expected with a set ranging from $340 to $380. It’s a good-sized case which can hold the earphones, the cable, and even a smaller dongle dac. It’s an open top case which stays closed by simple friction, no zipper, and it’s cladded entirely out of black leather. Honestly, it’s a nice case. 

Mesh Stickers & Silicone Plugs 

One very cool feature of the Performer 8S is its passive radiator tuning system that Aful crafted. To tailor the sound, Aful added into the packaging “vent stickers” and “small silicon rubber plugs” to seal or partially control the passive radiator vent. What this is supposed to accomplish is to give the listener some options of how they want to hear the bass. Of course, any change in the bass region “usually” will have a dramatic effect on the rest of the frequency. It’s a very simple and time-tested approach at changing the tuning to fit your preferences and it’s cool to see Aful providing us with different options for how we want to experience this set. I’ll just say this; there is a very real change in the bass, in my opinion. However, whether you seal off the PR vent or not, the change is mostly affecting bass texture and some punch/impact. You won’t have a ton of added warmth, per say. At least not enough to drastically change the tonal balance, in my opinion. Personally, I actually enjoy both a sealed and open presentation. I’ll give a quick breakdown of how I hear the bass with this PR vent “sealed” and “open” below… 

Sealed

When I say “sealed” what I mean is that I used either the mesh sticker or the silicone plug to “seal” the vent from the passive radiator. I find sealing the vent gives the bass a more structured, cleaner, and better-defined bass. You’ll have more bass density and a more robust sound. The sound has more texture, is punchier, and has a harder note edge when the PR vent is sealed, to my ears. With the PR vent sealed you’ll hear tighter note decay, less lag, and a less elastic feel to the bass. You could say less physicality and boom but also more rigid and clean-lined. Sealing this vent tends to make the bass feel more planted, more fixed. Yes, you’ll have a hair less warmth, but you’ll gain a more acute punch to the bass. This is especially helpful in more complicated bass passages. 

Open

When the PR vent is untouched or open, the sound within the bass has more presence, and a touch softer of a feel. Definitely the bass is still clean and taut, but simply less precise and less of a textured sound, to a degree. Basically, the sound is more physical with the vent open. Dynamically the presence of the low end has more of a pronounced feel. You’ll hear a deeper sublevel response, or at least a more noticeable response. However, the bass is also a touch softer at note edges, less precise, and a hint more bloom too. Having said that, even with the vent open I never found this bass to be anything but clean and robust. So, I’m not saying the “open vent” style is a worse way to listen to this set. Truthfully, I actually like the open style a lot. The open vent mode is almost smoother, more open sounding, more relaxed. These changes aren’t world altering, but they are changes, nonetheless. 

*For the record, in my critical listening I actually went for the PR vent open as I do find the sound to be the most musical and airy, more pleasant. To a slight degree. Yet mainly I went this route because it is the out-of-the-box tuning, for review purposes and not necessarily my favored approach all the time. I actually go back and forth in my preference. 

Cable 

I think the cable provided with the Performer 8S is a nice cable. Nice enough that I didn’t have to cable swap. Now, one “possible” downside is that this cable is not modular and so you’d have to choose a 3.5 single ended jack or a 4.4 balanced connection at purchasing. Thankfully, the cable that I have is 4.4 balanced. To be exact, the included cable is a reasonably thick twisted cable with a mostly brown colorway contrasted with silver wire. It’s a nice-looking cable. It’s also made well. This cable is made up of 6-strands & 392 cores of 4N single-crystal copper that is plated in silver. Also, the conductors are all single-crystal copper as well. It’s a standard 0.78 2-pin cable, isn’t microphonic at all and is very pliable, easy to use, and it won’t weigh down your iems when in ear. I can’t really come up with many downsides other than it not being modular and possibly not as thicky-thick as some consumers would like (I like it alot). Not bad at all. 

Build / Aesthetic / Internals / Fit 

Build Quality 

The build quality of this set directly ties into its tuning and fitment being that it is a very well built all-resin iem, very lightweight, and has an extremely ergonomic fit, for me (more on that later). The 8S is made using all medical grade resin, safe for the skin, and honestly just feels good in the ear. You can’t see any seams, no burs, no weird anomalies from the build process. Truly a beautifully built set. Of course, we see beautifully built all-resin iems at $50. What you cannot see from the outside is what’s inside the Shells which tie directly into how this set was tuned. Basically, to make this set there is only one way and that is that it has to be 3D printed and the margin of error has to be “zero”. Inside Aful printed off all of the I eternal tube structure which perfectly runs from each driver housing to the nozzles. There’s also a fully functional passive radiator cavity as well (among other acoustic parts and pieces) built into the 3D printed structure, making this build not only a durable and attractive shell, but an integral component of the tuning itself. Aful did a fine job on the build, something they are becoming known for. 

Aesthetic Appearance 

This section is wholly subjective and most of you could care less what my thoughts are. I mean, you can see this set for yourself. However, I’ve always added an “Aesthetic” section so… why stop now. Can I just say that Aful puts a lot of effort into their designs. I’ll explain myself but first, the Aful Performer 8S was inspired by the colorful pearl-like bands of Jupiter. You’ll notice the fall color patterns, the oranges, reds, subtle yellow glitter, the black streaks. It all was dreamt up by the artisans/designers at Aful and was done so in such a premium way. Every color sits perfectly in contrast to the color next to it using glitter, abalone like elements, with a very layered picture on the faceplates. The first word which comes to mind is “elegant” followed quickly by “eye-catching”. I love how the faceplate color pattern shifts under light and sparkles in different ways as I turn them. This isn’t some flat painted or glitter splattered theme as we so often see. These faceplates were carefully crafted. I also really like that Aful chose the glossy black bottom half of the shells making the faceplate design stand out even more so. Obviously, no design will be perfect for everyone, but I enjoy giving virtual fist bumps to talented people. Nice work Aful! 

Internals

Now is the moment when I explain (to the best of my ability) everything which makes this set as sonically gifted as it is. Of course, I mean the Internals, the guts. As I briefly mentioned at the beginning of this review, the Performer 8S carries a total of eight drivers and nine if you count the passive radiator (PR). I do not count the PR as a driver but rather an element of the Performer 8S’s tuning. To be exact, the Performer 8S carries one dynamic driver (DD), six balanced armature drivers (BA), one micro-planar (MP) and the passive radiator. Before I dive into each driver, I need to tell you that Aful does not disclose the size/make/model of any of their drivers. So, I apologize. Now, the DD handles everything down low (as one would expect). All six balanced armature drivers handle the mids and treble and the micro-planar handles the upper treble. The passive radiator is actually setup as sort-of an array with the DD (as they do). Aful also used their patented RLC network frequency division tech acting as the crossover using resistors, capacitators, which work hand-in-hand with the acoustic tubing internally. As far as the tubing, Aful describes the bass driver tube as extra-long, a separate mid-bass tube, and a midrange tube all leading to the nozzles and eventually to our ears. Everything has to be perfectly calculated and I’m sure many months/years went into the R&D of this set to get the tuning where Aful wanted it. 

Passive Radiator 

You’ll remember I spoke earlier about the vent switch which helps to control the texture and emphasis of the bass by restricting air or letting it breathe thus the PR diaphragm actually vibrates enhancing the low-end. PR drivers (when implemented well) can actually extend the bass with a deeper, darker rumble, reduce noise in the ports, and basically shape how the low-end behaves. So to speak. The PR has no voice coil, it doesn’t have magnets and doesn’t receive any sort of electrical signal (as drivers do). Hence why I don’t call a PR a driver. To simplify its functionality; a passive radiator moves (vibrates) from the DD creating air pressure inside of a sealed chamber helping the bass come across more robust. You want an almost sealed chamber. Enough for those bass waves and air pressure to move the radiator properly. I should add that most PR drivers implemented nowadays inside of iems really don’t make a world of difference (that we can easily discern). Again, the vent switch actually doesn’t make the largest difference in the overall sound, but there is a discernable difference to my ears. I guess what I’m trying to say is that you aren’t getting two different earphones in one. More like two subtle variations of the same tuning. 

Fit / Comfort 

I feel this set is ridiculously comfortable for my ears. It’s very lightweight at only 6-grams per side and truly feels like nothing in the ear. While the build feels substantial in hand, it is anything but heavy. The ergonomics of the 8S are great too. Once you find some tips which seal for you, I am sure you’ll have the same opinion as I do. Of course, I have no idea if this set will actually be a good fit for your ears, but I’m going out on a limb here… I think the 8S should fit just about anyone very-very well. Great for long listening sessions. 

Drivability 

Sensitivity 

The Aful Performer 8S is rated with an impedance of 26 ohms and a sensitivity of 108 db’s @ 1khz. Just like the Performer 8S’s predecessor, it is a very sensitive iem which can be played off of just about any source, anywhere. I’d definitely argue that you should give this set the best source available at all times, but that’s just me. At any rate, the Performer 8S sounds great on just about anything. As always, for reviews I will test every iem/headphone with all of my sources. That means three old Android phones (including the LG V60) with 3.5 se connections, my iPad, four different ultra weak 3.5 se dongle dacs (25-35 mW) as well. I also used (for a long listening session) the Roseselsa RZ200M and was very-very happy with how awesome the Performer 8S sounded. Sometimes synergy happens when you least expect it. What I’m getting at is that the Performer 8S is not one that you need to break the bank to find a powerful source to use with it. Do I feel that more power helps this set? Yes I do. Still, if all you have is enough money to purchase the Performer 8S and a simple smartphone as a source then… be not dismayed. You’ll have some very nice listening sessions (providing your smartphone pairs well sonically). 

Added Output Power

Yes, the Performer 8S does well with weaker sources, but I like this set a whole lot more with some really good and clean amp power to drive those transducers. You don’t have to give this set a million watts as I noticed a distinct upgrade when I decided to use the Shanling UA7. Shoot, the EPZ TP50 or TP35 Pro more than suffice. I’m talking +100mW, maybe a 4.4 balanced connection too. Amp power will plateau though. There is a point when simple clean amping will no longer give you a tighter and more hard-edged bass, smoother treble, or more dimensional stage. Amping will only take you so far. Without question clean amping power helps, but you’ll get the most out of this set with how you pair it. Making sure that the source you use is a quality source. The Performer 8S will most certainly reciprocate with whatever you feed it. So, give the Performer 8S a good dongle dac (at the least). It doesn’t have to cost $1k. There’s plenty of sub $100 dongle dacs which really do well with this set. But keep in mind that some clean amperage and quality sources definitely scale the sound of this set. My opinion of course. 

Source Pairing 

This brings me to the most important way you can get the most out of the Performer 8S. That is… source pairing. While I definitely feel that we reviewers can get out of control speaking about synergy and what’s the best source out there for each set of earphones, I also feel that the Performer 8S does respond to some source tonalities better than others. For me personally, I enjoy a slightly more neutral leaning and natural sounding source. I don’t like warmer sources, as much. Nor do I enjoy brighter sources as much with this set. Something which ranges from warm/neutral to neutral seems to hit the spot. Generally speaking. Having said that, I had a great time using the Shanling M6 Ultra with this set which leans a hair warmer than warm/neutral as well as the Shanling UA7. Though my absolute favorite sources to pair with the Aful Performer 8S were the Hiby R6 Pro II 2025, and the Fiio Q15. Just to give you an idea. 

Personal Preference 

As with anything in this hobby, the best result that you will have will come from your own personal preferences. We reviewers like to tell you what works best or what doesn’t. However, the truth is that we can only tell you what sounds good to us. Don’t believe any reviewer who tells you that any such source device carries some magical “synergy”. All that means is that the reviewer really enjoyed “X” source with “Y” earphones and nothing more. Same goes for the Performer 8S. I can tell you this; just about any tonality from just about every source still sounds good with this set. Nothing sounds downright bad. The 8S really adapts to most sources well. Listen, I’m sure that whatever you own will sound pretty darn good with this set. We try to over complicate some of the simplest things in this hobby far too often. This is a solid iem which plays well with most sources. 

Sound Impressions 

*Note: before I deep dive into the sound portion of this review I want to preface everything with a few moderately important ideas/caveats. First off, I didn’t burn this set in because I never had to. This is a tour sample which had already made its way to many different reviewers before me. So I have zero idea if the Performer 8S needs burn-in or not. During critical listening I used some KBear 07 type silicone tips (I have no idea where I got them) and they sounded best for me as well as we’re the most comfortable. All listening was accomplished using flac or better files which are stored on my (some MP3 too). I used the included cable for 90% of listening and only swapped cables when using a 3.5 se source. For all critical listening I did not use the bass vent open. I figured I’d give you the “out-of-the-box” sound for this review. 

What’s It Sound Like? 

One thing Aful specializes in is making earphones which sound unique and doing so with some cool tech involved. To my ears the Aful Performer 8S represents one of the best tuned iems that I’ve heard from the brand. Very much a mature sound that doesn’t neglect the rhythm of a musical sound. This is one set which melts together a groovy and smoother cadence with wonderful resolution and clarity better than most and doesn’t for a second stray from the technical roots of the series (8 series). That my friends is called… “good tuning”. However, “good tuning” is such a generalized and generic term for what I’m trying to say. Listen folks, I hear a lot of iems and I always seek out what makes every set special for some, or what makes it less ideal for some, and I always try to find a silver lining if I like the sound. If I don’t like it then you’ll never see me review it. That said… I really-really like this sound, and I really respect how Aful achieved that sound. They don’t go with spaghetti on the wall implementations of drivers, and they never do anything that doesn’t take hard work to achieve (seemingly). The Performer 8S is a shining example of that. Every area of the mix is well accounted for in a near all-rounder fashion as it has something for just about everyone (with a few caveats) and can cover most any genre short of “reference audiophile” with ease. I’m not saying the Performer 8S is going to sit atop the $300-$400 leader board for everyone. Shoot, I’m not even saying that for myself. What I am saying in this “Sound Intro” is that you have a surefire bet that the Aful Performer 8S is a highly capable iem which has the spunk to appease both musicality lovers and those who seek good technicals in a fashion which is not typically seen from most brands. I can already tell you it’s worth every penny to own. 

She Can Sing! 

Now that I’ve got that out of the way and left you with zero mystery how I feel about this set… let’s get down to business, shall we? So, after many hours with the Performer 8S in my ears I feel confident in saying that it carries a mostly W-shaped sound signature, but I wouldn’t argue with a very-very mild V-shaped signature either. I say this because the Performer 8S has a nicely boosted sublevel, a forward and pronounced midrange, as well as a moderately lifted (somewhat relaxed) treble region. I hear a fantastic balance of the spectrum as far as emphasis is concerned. Again, no area of the mix has been forgotten, and no area of the mix sticks out. Nothing drowns anything out, no mud, no veil, no tizzy treble smear, just a very well proportionally weighted tuning. Each 3rd of the mix represents in a smoothly rendered, nicely measured, dynamic, and tidy way. The type of smoother cadence which doesn’t soften note delivery. The type of dynamism which doesn’t spike, glare, or sound unrealistic. Also, when I say “tidy” I mean high resolution, clean resolve, black background, ushered in by glass-lined acute note clarity and somewhat tighter transients (perceivably). Not perfect in any one area, but as a frequency collective… the Performer 8S can flat-out sing friends. By the way, my musical/analytical split for this set is 60/40%.

Timbre

The timbre lands squarely in the organic zone. I find that the warm/neutral approach and good overall tonal balance keep the sound relatively natural to my ears. You see, the Performer 8S doesn’t have areas of great emphasis in respect to the rest of the mix. Again, nothing spiky, nothing muddled in bass weight, nothing shouty either. Couple that with the fact that sibilance is natural on this set and I hear almost zero metallic timbre within the mids and no electric sizzle from the MP drivers in the highs. Definitely in that “slightly” warmed organic style. The type of warmth, which is barely there, just enough color, just enough semi-rich tunefulness to sound robust along with enough midrange presence to sound prominent… and very far from boring. To add to all of that, macro-dynamics are actually very expressive, with very nice dynamic range and fully present large-scale swings in volume which don’t sound artificial, or forced, or too boisterous (which can happen so easily). It’s always such a subtle margin of error in which one subtle lack of cohesion would stand out. I honestly and truly do not hear that. At least nothing which sticks out. In fact, to my ears the cohesiveness of the drivers, and the feathered-in transitions from one area of the mix to another sound naturally blended, with a homogeneous unity. So, timbre is actually great in respect to tonality and cadence. That said, the only thing which strays from “perfectly natural” (in my opinion) is the tighter-than-natural transients past the bass. But who cares about that? The Performer 8S’s timbre is very nice for a set with as many drivers as it has. 

The Techy Stuff

One of the Performer 8S’s strongest features is its technical ability. I think we can all agree that the Performer 8S’s predecessor, the P8, was absolutely exceptional in all things technicalities. A detail beast for sure. However, one huge drawback within its tuning was the brighter top end. In truth, the frequency graph between both sets doesn’t look all that different, except in one key area, that is the bass department. And some upper treble lift, but they are very close in terms of graph appearance. That lift and reduced bass of the OG P8 really did a good job of uncovering every last bit of minutiae within my music, but the sound simply wasn’t very natural. You could say the OG almost sounded forced at times and a hair artificial. The beauty of the 8S is that it has awesome timbre, none of that forced resolution brought on by screaming highs. Aful was able to bring the timbre into organic territory while also revealing loads of details. Not to mention fantastic note separation with an ability to take on very complicated passages of music. I hear a nice stage with good dimensionality and exceptional layering abilities. It does this while keeping a smooth demeanor, nice bass weight, and even a semi-rich note body. I will cover “Technicalities” in much greater depth later but just know that the 8S can really draw those subtleties to the surface very well. Let’s dive into each 3rd of the mix… 

Bass Region 

Bass Intro

This is the type of bass (bass vent open) that won’t drown out any other frequency, it’s never bloated, never muddy, and the bass always keeps its composure. To my ears I most definitely hear a quality-over-quantity style low-end that still has the weight, that sweet texture, the body, and the realism to offer a physical sound. Also, I just need to get this out of the way, so there’s no confusion. Bassheads, look at the graph, do you feel this set will work for you? I didn’t think so. With a 5 dB bass shelf there will be zero bassheads rushing to pick this set up. Again, the 8S is all about quality, fast twitch density, hard edged attack, clean note release and it’s the type of low-end which does a tremendous job of showing up when called upon. The 8S’s low-end will not make its presence felt without being called upon. Basically, it keeps a very clean profile. If I were to call it anything I’d say the 8S’s bass is focused a hair more in the sublevels, but that is not easily heard. I think the depth of the bass brought in by the help of the passive radiator does a great job of enhancing the deepest frequencies without emphasizing the too much causing issues, if that makes sense? The bass has enough weight, warmth and body to feel and sound fulfilling, yet never to the point of sounding bloated. Each bass note has the capability to hit, swell, and release in a succinct and tidy manner with very solid control. To add to that, I hear good note definition down low too. This bass will not satisfy those who love a bulbous and bullish thump, boom, or rumble, but it should gratify any person who enjoys quality bass replay. 

Sealed “Bass” Vent 

I do need to speak on the fact that having the bass vent “closed” or “sealed” is going to slightly alter the texture, the precision, and the feel of the low-end. I spoke a little bit about it in the “Mesh Stickers & Silicone Plugs” section which basically describes the sound of the 8S’s bass when the vent is either covered in a mesh sticker or plugged. Each of which is provided in the packaging. Really quick, the bass region is going to come across even tighter when the vent is sealed. I decided to review based on an open vent as I do find it a more natural and organic sound, but I’m sure some of you may enjoy it sealed even more. I actually go back and forth the way I like to hear it. You’ll have a touch better texture, a harder edged sound, and more of a precise punch. Emphasis won’t change and truthfully the sound doesn’t really alter to any huge degree. So, keep that in mind. 

Sub-Bass 

As I said, I do hair more of a presence from the sublevels. Of course, that is only when a track displays such a thing. I’d say the passive radiator seems to help the depth and dark vibrance of the region adding just enough juddering drone to a solid bass guitar and it helps to get the “feel” from a solid kick drum. However, this is not an overbearing sub-bass at all. It always keeps to itself, remains very well defined, with a good sense of fullness to it and a more textured and concise note delivery rather than smoothened or wide. Aful did a solid job of keeping this region in check while in the same breath adding enough emphasis to sound foundational, when it needs to. Just don’t expect some super guttural bass focused sound. The Performer 8S was crafted, created, and tuned to have balance, and so you should expect a sub-bass which will at least remain cohesive to that balance. That said, tracks which are recorded with that deep weighted sound, like “Tell Me What’s On Your Mind” by The Decemberists come across extremely well textured. Naturally, this track begins with an electric bass guitar bassline which is all gravelly texture. The texture is preserved very well, which is awesome. However, in my mind I like that I can feel the bass, in a haptic and tactile way with that visceral growl. Remember, I’m speaking on a set that carries a 5 dB bass shelf (not a lot), so it’s pretty impressive. Another is “Silent Shout” by The Knife which helps to show off how well 8S performs with a track recorded in a more bulbous and muddier way. The 8S remains taut, controlled, and cleanly replays every sublevel note without causing any blur. 

Mid-Bass 

The mid-bass is one which reaches the same level of emphasis as the sub-levels (for the most part), although the fullness sounds a touch less robust. Enough weight to drive drums, to add some fullness to a bass guitar, enough body to present a baritone in a natural manner, and enough presence for double bass to sound spacious, articulate, and palpable. Yet, the mid-bass is not as full-bodied when the vent is open. This is a clean mid-bass which carries a more nuanced approach and can handle just about any track you throw at it. Definitely a moderate boost in this region that will never cover the sound in a warm blanket, it encroaches on the midrange just enough to add some richness, it’ll never veil or cloud the mix, and the mid-bass is not the set for booming bass drops. Of course, I think we’ve covered that. But in spite of everything I just said, the mid-bass will surprise you. I say that because it surprises me. Perhaps the 8S’s mid-bass should be the poster child of “Shows up when called upon”. Really, “Billie Jean” by Weezer sounds so satisfying people! Tight, dense, and clean note outlines hit with a solid attack on every successive kick drum boom to begin this song. I use this track in every review to discern the texture, the weight, cleanliness, transient decay etc. of every iem (one of many tracks). The beauty of the 8S is that the texture is wonderful without losing the roundness or the depth of every note. Each note has precision and sounds realistic providing a very rhythmicity enriching sound. Also, the bass never muddies the waters (so to speak). Always clean, always well separated from the mids, from vocals, from guitars, and it never sounds like a mess of smeared bass. 

Downsides to the Bass Region 

The biggest downside would come from the basshead who blindly buys this set. Why they would do that is beyond me, but crazier things have happened. Seriously, bassheads will be tragically let down. The 8S has an “audiophile bass”. Audiophile bass with a touch of good physicality. But not for bassheads, or even those who prefer a touch more low-end weight. In all truth, I really don’t want to speak negatively at all about what Aful did here, and I don’t think the bass is an issue at all. It is what EVERYONE should have expected if you have even a slight inkling of knowledge about the former OG Performer 8. This series didn’t gain success by being a bass-boi dream series. Quality-over-quantity folks. The quantity is just enough to sound natural and to sound convincing. Aful wasn’t trying to ruin everything they’ve created in the tuning of this series to appease bassheads. Honestly, there isn’t really anything else to complain about in my opinion. If you’ve done your research and you’ve read the reviews, and you’re ready to spend the $340-ish dollars to own this set… then I’m sure you are well aware what the bass is all about. Clean, speedy, exceptionally well textured, and nicely defined with a good helping of clean punch and haptic vibratory goodness. 

Midrange 

Midrange Intro

To my ears the Aful Performer 8S’s midrange is probably my favorite aspect of this set. It’s a midrange which can replay just about every melody in a way that seems natural to me. That subtle warmth, the presence, and the restrained yet shimmery vibrance creates an almost symphonic feel to my music. I am one who believes wholeheartedly that if the mids aren’t passable (at least) then the sound isn’t right. Aful used six midrange balanced armature drivers along with some warmth inducing boost from the low-end dynamic driver helping to forge one of the more timbrally enjoyable, emotionally charged, and totally cohesive sounds under $400. I wouldn’t say the 8S is “mid-centric” or “Vocal-Centric”, but the mids definitely sit slightly forward with an alluring dynamic presence. To my ears the mids are certainly smoother than they are crisp, but mature, disciplined, and still defined enough to cleanly relay the full arc of a note without grain, fuzz, blur, or abrasiveness. The Aful Performer 8S has a midrange which is predicated on balance, musicality, fluid cadence, and focused resolution, without many timbral drawbacks. The timbre is one which uses that subtle warmth to bring natural color to the track, with a semi rich note body (for the most part) and a smoothness which keeps instruments and vocalists from sounding harsh, sharp, or artificial. Not lush, not thick, and not overly earthy-organic. Instead, the 8S’s midrange (as a whole) is generally very coherent, with great separation, note intelligibility, it’s very realistic, and really just pleasantly refined. 

Midrange Cont… 

I don’t want to get out of control here because I have definitely heard midrange performances within this price point that I enjoy more, at times. However, those are usually midrange oriented iems. While I adore the midrange, there are also other regions which can get left out and affected by a more prominent midrange. The 8S isn’t that. What I like about the 8S is that it truly is an ensemble cast of frequency ranges. There is no lead actor in this play folks. Each area does its job very-very well and the midrange is obviously included in that. Everything about this set is centered around balance. Balance of frequency ranges, balance of tonal coloration, balance of smooth and crisp, balance of fun and mature, pretty close balance of musicality and analytical ability etc. It’s really cool how engaging and immersive the sound can be in this set. I’ve conducted a few reviews of late where I’ve called a set both “technically capable and musically inclined” and in each one I praised the set and the brand. However, the 8S takes this balance of character traits to a new level. To be effortlessly musical, rhythmical, and fluid, while also sounding clean-lined, and technically astute is not exactly the norm. The midrange of the 8S pulls this off very well. In my opinion. 

Lower-Midrange 

The lower midrange (to me) is one which leans warm, very natural, very smooth, while being tuned well enough to not come across overly thick and pretty crystalline for a more rhythmic sound. Aful was going for clarity and realism and what they ended up creating was a solid lower midrange that isn’t overly recessed, carries male vocals nicely, and has very nice resolution. There is definitely some bleed from the low-end providing what I consider to be “a natural sound” by infusing some of that warmth without getting carried away. A moderate sense of saturation, or fullness, if you will. I should note that there is a subtle low-mid recession, though I honestly don’t even pay attention to that because presence is still very nice in the range. Instruments and vocals sound grounded while not sounding dull to me. That’s always a problem in this range for most sets. They can be rich and grounded but that usually can also have a negative impact. I don’t hear that on this set and believe me I listen for it. One thing that helps is the nice note separation and precision giving a nice lift of lucidity and legibility in conjunction with the semi-rich note weight, the more organic timbre, and the musical nature of this set as a whole. Before I move on, male vocals are quite nice; emotionally present, harmonics sound controlled and clean. Male vocal inflections always sound smooth and full. I have nothing bad to say. 

Upper-Midrange 

If you enjoy an upper midrange which isn’t overly aggressive, isn’t harsh or shouty, carries the same natural timbre as the rest of the mids, and are ever-so-slightly relaxed rather than forcibly pushed, you might enjoy what the 8S has to offer. The upper mids are certainly the more forward area of the midrange (as expected), yet they are never overbearing or too pronounced for me. In truth, there have been moments where a few gentle db’s in the 3k region would really be great. Maybe a bit more edge, some bite, some levity. Now, I would like a touch more lift, more energy, and a hair more female vocal texture (at times), but I can’t help but soak in female vocals on this set. Again, the beauty of this set is how it all comes together, every region. Sure, there are tracks where I could really use a touch more sparkle and note contour. Having said that, I am very happy with what I hear and every complaint that I have always melts away in mere minutes. Also, females can sound downright fantastic on the 8S. Aside from minor issues females are clear, well controlled, cleanly rendered, decent vibrance, and smooth. Also, females and upper mid males tend to have very nice weight to their voices too. Tracks like “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones are a perfect match for this set and absolutely lovely. In fact, any track by this woman sounds great on this set. Anything warm and intimate will sound perfect. Another is “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman. The acoustic guitar is so good with this set, but the real treat is Tracy’s vocals. Again, warm, intimate, never flat or dull, and never sharp. 

Downsides to the Midrange 

All things considered I really have nothing bad to say here. Sure the upper mids are a touch less boosted than something I’d call my preference, but I am so easy to please when a set comes together the way this one does. The timbre is great, details in the range are great, nice note definition and clarity, and I never hear anything harsh. Which was the main complaint from the OG Performer 8. Still, this set will not match everyone. Especially when you’re spending upwards of $350 to $380 US… you want to get it right. Having said that, for all I know you’d love everything I described here and my petty issues are exactly what you may be seeking. So, the main downside for me is the subtle lack of presence (on some tracks) within the upper mids. However, the midrange as a whole is pretty great. I could also say that while the 8S has a pretty nice technical foundation; good clarity, tighter transients, good resolution, details etc.; analytical heads are not going to be impressed. This set doesn’t carry ultimate note contour, edge, and perfectly crystalline note delivery. There are levels to this game. Yes, the 8S is very clean, but it isn’t at the technical level of a set literally tuned for technical listening. All things considered, I personally enjoy the midrange, and I find it one of the 8S’s more endearing qualities. It’s amazing how fast I forget about being critical and how easily I disregard petty issues when I’m simply trying to casually listen to and enjoy my music. The mids are great, don’t listen to me. 

Treble Region 

Treble Intro 

The treble region is one which features a very well extended, well-controlled, and smoother portrayal of the top end of the spectrum. You won’t hear anything which seems oversaturated, or too boisterous. In fact, I would characterize the treble as being rather relaxed. To a point. I know people read the word “relaxed” and instantly hear the words “dull” or “boring”. I’m not saying that. It simply isn’t a focal point of the tuning, and the treble isn’t sticking out amongst the rest of a melody unless a track calls for it. Honestly, it’s much like the rest of the mix. Every area seems to have a similar constitution. It isn’t overbearing, isn’t over emphasized, it isn’t harsh, sharp, aggressive or too bright. Also, it isn’t boring. I’d say the Performer 8S has a treble that sits just underneath what I’d call energetic and perfectly measured against the bass and the midrange for a great casual listening and musically gifted sound which doesn’t skimp on the technical stuff. The treble is a huge reason why this set sounds as melodic and mellifluous as it does. With that said, I think we can determine that treble heads will want to keep looking. This is a smooth treble, it’s softened, shimmery, subtle bite, and the only note crunch you’ll hear is when a track pushes such a sound. Other than that, it’s very clean, high resolution, very nice note separation and solid macro and micro-details preserving that nicely extended and open sound. 

Technically Speaking 

So far, I’ve definitely pushed the musicality of this treble, the smoothness, the non-abrasive character, and I’ve basically told you all that this is a safely tuned treble. A treble born and bred to help reveal the emotional feel within your music “in tandem” with the rest of the mix. However, even with the safe nature of the sound up top, I still find that the 8S can illuminate subtle details extremely well. Now, not to the degree that the analytically tuned original Performer 8 could illuminate details, but very-very solid for such a smooth character. The type of detail retrieval that isn’t going to force your mind’s eye on every last nuance while maintaining solid texture and edge detail due to the higher resolution, tighter transients, clean-lined delivery and because there’s absolutely zero masking of any frequency on this set. That to me is awesome. I want to hear music for what it is rather than constantly being directed to tiny details subconsciously. To me, it’s a genius tuning. Every analytically tuned iem is analytically tuned because there is a brighter, edgier, and more forced resolution. Or there’s zero bass presence. Only quality sets with quality drivers which are smartly tuned can buck that trend. Now that I’ve said all of that, the Performer 8S has that open feel and extension up top which does add a sense of space between elements of the stage. I’d say that “technically” the Performer 8S is above average. Not a detail beast, but it has very nice detail retrieval. It doesn’t have that top shelf treble bite or the clean treble punch of more detail-oriented sets. Also, the Performer 8S’s treble isn’t the most textured set in this region. However, for a very smooth sound which is mostly laid back, I have been pleasantly surprised at the nice layer of sparkle, shimmer, and transparency for such a rhythmic and cadent sound. Clean, non-fatiguing, and smooth is a great thing to be for a treble region. 

Not Slow 

To recap, the treble is clean, smooth, solid extension, tighter transients, yet subtly soft, non-aggressive, less hard-lined edge and sharp bite. Despite all of that I want to brag on the Performer 8S’s keen ability to keep up with bust treble tracks. Even though it is tuned musicality-first, laid-back, and doesn’t have the most lustrous and brilliant treble I’ve ever heard… those drivers are fast folks. They’re very tidy, very well-controlled, clean in their attack through release of every note and there isn’t a whole lot of lingering harmonics stuffing up the space between those notes. Basically, complex runs and really complicated mixes are actually fairly easy for the Performer 8S. It took me a minute to figure this out because I wasn’t expecting it. The moment I hit play on “Evil Twin” by Lindsey Stirling and heard the Performer 8S dissect every last violin note with clarity, with distinction, and with solid articulation. It just isn’t as purely precise in note contour as a more analytically inclined iem. Like the OG Performer 8. Thankfully. Still, it literally has no issue with this one. Another was Billy Strings’ track “Ice Bridges” as the treble is so clear and able to cleanly separate the blistering fast acoustic picking and all of those subtle string overtones which seem to get lost on less talented iems. I’d say the tradeoff is that the treble simply isn’t especially biting or as sparkly as more treble oriented or treble focused iems. Notes come across a hair more rounded than ultra-etched and laser focused. The bottom line is that the Performer 8S’s treble stays clean at all times and it’s agile & well controlled while always veering musical in nature and still it presents even faster passages nicely for the tuning. 

Downsides to the Treble Region 

There’s plenty of downsides for those who need that hyper-etched and finely tailored sound. While writing the “Treble Region” section I battled explaining how nice this treble really is while also explaining its shortcomings. I’ve read thousands of reviews and the moment I read anything which comes even close to sounding like a negative connotation I automatically start to create a negative bias. I really hope you are not like me in that regard. We are all so different folks. I say it all the time. What’s good for one will not be good for another. To my ears I feel that the Performer 8S’s treble region definitely won’t be good for a few types of listeners. First off, treble heads. This set is a “no-go” for you. It won’t suffice. The next type of listener is the person who desperately needs to hear every last detail with a forensic focus. Yes, the detail retrieval within this range is very good, but it isn’t top tier and also… it wasn’t supposed to be. Very few listeners “actually” want top shelf detail retrieval, they just don’t know it. Until they figure it out long after they’ve blind bought a set that some reviewer praised to the moon about its detail ability. I’d say another type of listener who won’t enjoy this treble is the person who only enjoys dark treble. I’m talking about the dude who seeks out an early roll-off. The person who wants warm, warm, and warmer, rich, smooth, and totally non-offensive treble which is more of an afterthought than anything else. There are others, but I feel that the treble will be perfectly fine for 90% of listeners. 

Technicalities 

Soundstage 

Okay, so the soundstage is very nice. It’s everything you’d want it to be for the cost and sounds perfectly appropriate for the style of tuning for this set. However, it is not some super holographic and huge stage. Those who always want that huge stage may want to be careful what they wish for because a big stage doesn’t necessarily mean a “good stage”. The Performer 8S has a “good stage”. Meaning, it is nicely dimensioned, it’s spacious, and best of all it is well structured. I’d say moderate to large in actual scale and breadth. For instance, the width of the stage is solid, good, extended well, but more importantly the stage width is natural. So many sets with enormously wide stages can sound very disjointed and artificial at times. If you don’t know what I mean… just wait, you’ll hear it. The sound needs to be natural and appropriate in my humble opinion. I will say that having an open vent helps for a hair more of an open and wider feel. Now, the stage height is top shelf, plain and simple. The vertical layering of this set is awesome. Another huge compliment to the Performer 8S’s stage is its depth of field. Depth is strong with very good front to back layering. Having said all of that I do not feel that the Performer 8S has some amazing holographic and stadium sized stage. There are better sets in the price point in this regard. Still, I cannot take anything away from what Aful did here as the Performer 8S has a very natural and convincing stage, great spacing, good layering abilities, pretty immersive too. 

Separation / Imaging 

To my ears the Aful Performer 8S has excellent note separation and layering. Flat-out excellent for the smoother and more musical sound. I hear no real overlap unless the song is wildly complicated or the bass is masking hard. Which is few and far in between. The only real drawback is that some sets will have more precise note edges while the Performer 8S has a touch of softness to its super clean note delivery. Still, it has top notch note separation. It has the openness, the air, the faster transient agility, the overall resolution is great, and the stage has all the left to right, top to bottom, and front to back space to facilitate distinct separation. This goes for imaging as well. I hear that awesome spatial recognition where left to right panning shows off individual notes very well. Perhaps one of its best traits. Of course, the 8S also has that good layering of the sound field that I was talking about as well. Honestly, I think you are truly getting your money’s worth (and more) when it comes to separated vocalists and instrumentation, well imaged vocalists and instrumentation, and well layered vocalists and instrumentation. This is a fine set folks. 

Detail Retrieval 

When it comes to detail retrieval, I’d call the Performer 8S “above average” from what I’ve personally heard. While that is a vague thing to say, I also think you can pick up what I’m throwing down. It is not class leading and in truth… it shouldn’t be. The 8S was not tuned to be that. Aful already made that with the OG and guess what, it was a very polarizing iem. Aful actually corrected things with the 8S by dialing back detail retrieval ability. Not by much though. I still hear almost all micro-details fairly well. But as I said earlier, there are levels to this game and with those levels comes caveats and drawbacks. Everything is a give and take in this hobby, friends. Aful didn’t want to boost the treble to the stars for a few extra details. Also, as I said, I’m glad they went this route. Despite that, I still find the 8S very strong for anyone who doesn’t want to miss the breath in Norah Jones’s vocals, or the finger slide on the acoustic guitar, the person coughing 12 rows back in your favorite live track or the sweet rebound of that pointed snare. To my ears every area of the mix is good. The bass is highly detailed, very well defined, and clean. Next the midrange is probably the best when it comes to details. Also, the treble is pretty nice too. Perhaps a tad soft, but extremely well-controlled. All-in-all, I don’t think you’ll hear many complaints when it comes to detail retrieval. People will be too busy enjoying their music to complain about it.

Genres

I began including this section over a year ago and got rid of my “Ratings” section. The ratings were too divisive and just caused too many feelings out of people. Trust me, my message box has plenty of people’s opinions about them. At any rate, I do feel that adding in a “Genres” section has been a huge help in that it gives the listener a better idea of what they are getting with each respective set that I’m reviewing. Obviously, these are my opinions. To add to that, my opinion may not be your opinion. My idea of what sounds best with Metal, with Rock, with Jazz etc. may be very different from what you feel sounds the best. Please keep this in mind, please. Next, just because I tell you that the Performer 8S doesn’t sound as good with one genre or another doesn’t mean it won’t sound good with all tracks from that genre. These are extremely broad and extremely generalized thoughts. In the same breath I can tell you that genres which do seem to pair well with this set may also have plenty of tracks which won’t sound quite as perfect. Nothing in this hobby is ever black and white. This is a gray hobby where subjectivity rules the day and always will. Well, until they turn us all into AI operated robots. Too far… sorry. Anyways, the point I’m making and always try to speak on is that you really need to read between the lines and try to feel out my thoughts in a way that makes sense to you. Also, you should be doing that with every review you ever read, watch, or listen to. 

Genres Which Work 

Friends, the Aful Performer 8S is a legit “almost” all-rounder. Or it’s about as close as you come to it. I do feel that it’s close, which is great. There are genres which are less great, but none are truly bad. Anyway, here’s my opinion on some of those genres which work well. First off, Metal is awesome on this set with its warmth and dynamic sound without harshness. Also, any Rock music (Alternative, Classic, Progressive etc.) as the bass has that good control, it has great texture, vocals sound natural and the 8S handles busy passages of music very well. Jazz is another clear favorite for me as the 8S handles instrument tone color, instrument spacing/separation, and has some very nice detail retrieval while keeping smooth and fluid at all times. Next, any Acoustic stuff (I have plenty of Acoustic albums which are so nice) or any Folk, Singer-Songwriter (generally great), any Country music too. Also, most Pop music does awesome with the 8S. Enough bass to stay engaging, never congested, never fatiguing, and vocals are clear and smooth. Surprisingly, I also like most Hip-Hop, EDM, Rap, R&B on this set too. The bass is textured, controlled, and cleanly rendered so everything sounds tidy with enough deep rumble and punch to satisfy (again, not for bassheads). Lastly, any Classical or Orchestral stuff sounds made for this set. Staging and instrument separation is very solid which plays right into this genre. It has great vertical height and layering, great from to back layering, and the stage never feels or sounds cramped. There are more to list, but I just wanted to give you an idea of genres which pair well. 

Not So Perfect Genres 

As far as “not-so-perfect” genres are concerned, I honestly can’t list a “genre” which doesn’t pair well with this set unless that genre needs some super bulbous bass or needs a ton of upper end sparkle. So I won’t list off genres, but I can give you an idea of certain types of tracks within genres which might pose a problem on the 8S. Like, any super dense Classical track with ultra complicated mixes. Tracks like Mahler’s “Symphony No. 2 Resurrection”. No doubt it sounds great, but there are moments of some smearing. I’d also say that any bright and treble forward music which relies on sharper edges, upper-mid bite and shimmer as well as some sparkle. Tracks like “Days” by No Vacation, which is one of my test tracks. The 8S doesn’t perform perfect bite and doesn’t have quite the shimmer you may want. It sounds fine, but not perfect. The same can be said of super heavy bass jams found in genres like Rap, EDM or general Hip-Hop. The 8S has great bass, deep, tight, but it can’t quite manage the powerful synth bass or the heavy 808s like a basshead would want. So, this is why I say that the 8S is about as close as you get to an all-rounder without being a true “all-rounder” iem. For some people, yes, the 8S will be that. However, I don’t think everyone will share that opinion. 

Last Words on the Aful Performer 8S 

I am very sorry, but I ran out of time to fully complete any comparisons. I will edit them in when I have a chance. However, for now just know that there aren’t many sets between $300 and $400 which truly match this sets’ style of tuning. This is a very special iem and one that I feel should most certainly be on everyone’s short list if you feel that what I’ve described is something that you’d enjoy. In my opinion, the Aful Performer 8S is definitely a very solid mid-tier/mid-fi iem which carries a very sophisticated, engineered design, great aesthetic, comfortable, and it has that non-offensive yet organic sound carrying a wonderful balance across the mix. Friends, it’s hard not to like and even if you don’t like this set, it should be hard to say anything truly bad about it. Most certainly a true upgrade from the former Performer 8 and a clear winner within its price point if the tuning fits you. I can say with complete assurance that the Performer 8S is worth every penny. No doubt about it. 

The Why… 

Because the premium space themed packaging is easily what you’d expect from a mid-fi set. Every accessory is one of quality, great case, a ton of tips, and a nice cable. Also, the build is another high-end design from Aful with very durable & dense resin. All of the acoustic tech housed within these shells could have only been created by masters of the art. Also, I could wear this set forever and not have an issue. 6 grams is very light, and the ergonomics are very solid too. Furthermore, the design/aesthetic is also so solid, so dope, and simply one of the better looking iems for sure. Built into the Shells is the plug or mesh covering vent system to help further tune this set, and each way offers a slightly different sound. Very nice to have. It has 8 drivers in total and a working passive radiator which is something seldom seen. However, as with anything in this hobby, a set can be amazingly built, wonderfully designed, perfectly packaged. Yet if it doesn’t actually sound good then it’s as good as garbage. Or at least a money-back situation. It’s all about the sound… 

That Sound

What endeared me to this set was the sound. Plain and simple. I fell for its particular brand of tuning almost right away. That fun yet mature style which blends different sonic ideals perfectly. It has that tight, fast, and well defined bass which can reach deep into the frequency when needed while the mid-bass has just enough slam and punch to sound convincing. The mids have that sweet organic timbre, never metallic, never sibilant, and always harmonious. You’ll hear zero fatuige, and you’ll hear everything in your music. Vocals are great too. The treble is smooth, shimmery, yet dialed back to not cause offense. Such an easy listening iem. The treble also has that nice extension and nice note body along with above average detail retrieval. Overall the 8S has a great stage, very well dimensioned, nice front to back depth and side to side panning is also fantastic. Nothing bad I could say there. Add in the high level imaging and layering and what you end up with is one of the better made and better tuned iems within its price point. Friends, I only review what I enjoy and so I typically always rec what I’m reviewing, but the 8S is an easy no brainer. 

Conclusion 

To conclude my full review and feature of the Aful Performer 8S I first have to thank HiFiGo for sending the 8S across the United States for this tour. I would not have been able to hear this set any other way. Thank you very much HiFiGo. If it weren’t for this tour group and for HiFiGo I wouldn’t have been able to experience this set which would’ve been almost as big of a bummer as when I have to send this set on its way to the next reviewer. Also, thank you to anyone who has read this review. I spend a ton of time on these reviews and truly enjoy and love the process. I do hope this review helps you (at least a little bit) in finding your next iem. Please comment under this review any questions you may have or misunderstandings and I will surely get back to you.

Different Perspectives 

So now that you’ve read this review of the 8S, I want to ask you to read other reviews and opinions of the Aful Performer 8S. It’s hard to get a clear understanding of a set from one review. I simply don’t believe that you can get a good and clear gage on any set or device with only one opinion. We are all so very different. We all have our in-grown biases and each of us has our own personal opinions. Each of us has our own likes and dislikes, we have different gear and sources used, we have different musical libraries, different hearing abilities and most importantly, we all have been down a slightly (or not-so-slightly) different journey through audio. This journey helps shape our perspectives. There are so many variables my friends. So please, do yourself a favor and check out other thoughts on the 8S. There has to be a mountain of reviews of this set and I’m sure you can gain a good understanding with a little homework. With all that said, I am now done. Please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!