Aurisonics ASG-1 Universal In-Ear Monitors / Earphones Review
Several months ago, we received a visit at the Springtree offices by a new manufacturer in town that specializes in in-ear monitors, hearing protection, and other audio services. Although Aurisonics is a relatively new company (just recently surpassed the 1 year mark), they have big plans and are looking to change the game in the in-ear monitor arena. We were visited by Dale Lott, the president, engineer, and creator of the Aurisonics line.
At first I was skeptical… another universal in-ear monitor in a crowded market. He handed us a pair of Aurisonics ASG-1 earphones, amped through a Fiio E11 headphone amp, with a selection of music playing from an iPad. The housing is different from your standard universal in-ears as they look like custom monitors because of the size and shape. The wires also wrap around the ear like most custom in-ear monitors. Great build quality and look.
Aurisonics ASG-1 shown with custom tips
I plugged in the headphones to the amp and Dale put on some music. I’m sitting there listening to the intro thinking to myself, “yeah, ok what’s the big deal… same old thing” when BAM! The bass kicks in and my ears perk up a bit. As I continue to listen, I’m hearing detail in songs I’ve never heard before… and I own several pairs of high quality earphones and have listened to many top models from a number of high end earphone manufacturers.
The Aurisonics ASG-1 earphones are made with a single massive 15mm dynamic driver to represent a generally flat response across the frequency spectrum. Because of the large driver, these earphones are capable of taking quite a bit of equalization and sound excellent when powered by a good amplifier. The dynamic driver allows for a much more natural sound than many other earphones that use balanced armature drivers (which is most earphones). From a technical perspective, they can reproduce from as low as 8Hz to as high as 25kHz. That’s even outside of the range that the human ear can even hear (20Hz-20kHz)! The extensive range of these earphones allows you to really feel the power of the driver and provides incredibly detailed bass. The mid range has a slight boost in the vocal range around 1-2kHz so vocals and guitars can sound slightly more forward in the mix. The high end is clear and I would say somewhat smooth and extended but not harsh sounding. The separation of instruments and almost 3D like soundstage really allows for an immersive listening experience with great depth and width. Overall, the unanimous consensus of these earphones amongst our staff is that they ROCK! They are perfect for musicians on-stage and also great for general music listening.
Aurisonics hand makes their products here in the US… in fact, right across town from us in Nashville, TN! Most earphone manufacturers produce in mass quantities over seas, but Aurisonics takes the time to put individual attention to each set.
The packaging includes small, medium, and large tips, and a cleaning tool inside a clear hard shell Otterbox. The Otterbox is a very nice touch as it can take a beating and protect your earphones with ease.
Now here is the REALLY cool part… everything about these is upgradeable. The cable is upgradeable (although the cable that comes with it is very nice), you can get custom fit tips, and soon the faceplate will have upgrade options. Not only that, but when future models are created, the ASG-1 can be sent in to Aurisonics to be upgraded. This truly sets Aurisonics apart from other earphone manufacturers as they’ve made a universal earphone into a “custom”.
Although the Aurisonics ASG-1 earphones are brand new and have only been around for a short while, they’ve gained quite a bit of traction amongst the audiophile community. Take a look at this thread: Aurisonics ASG-1 Impressions and Reviews on Head-Fi which is a review site filled with earphones, headphones and other audiophile gear reviews.
Not only does Aurisonics make universal earphones, they also make custom in-ear monitors. Here’s where things get even more interesting… The custom monitors are made from impressions of your ears and are custom made for a perfect fit. There are a few different models available of the custom series, all of which at this time use the same 15mm driver found in the universal ASG-1 model.
AS-1B – Ambient and Bass Valve
AS-1A – Ambient Valve
AS-1 – No Valves
AS-1C – No Valves, Downward Wires
Yes, you read that right… ambient and bass valves. You can open up the ports on these earphones with the included tool so you can hear more of the room or tune the bass to your liking. This offers an insane amount of control over what you’re hearing. The ambient valve is great for musicians… You know when you see a musician on stage that has 1 ear open and the other with an in-ear monitor? They are trying to hear more of what’s going on around them on stage… this ambient port solves this problem and allows the musician to keep their in-ear monitors in at all times without missing out on the natural sound around them.
Call your favorite Springtree staff member to order a pair at our discount rate today whether you’re interested in the ASG-1 universal earphones or the custom models. We’ll be glad to discuss the sound signature and find the best model for your particular needs. As always, you may call (615-599-1505) or email us to receive our discount pricing on just about any product listed on our site.
