Aune AC55 On-Ear Clip Earphones Review – Delicious Clip On Sound Is Back In Town
Aune AC55 is a $239 USD pair of Open-Back, Clip-On Headphones with a unique style that I remember seeing last in 2010 when I first embarked on the audiophile journey towards better music. Today we will review AC55 and briefly compare them with other headphones, but given that nothing has this fitting, most of the focus will be on reviewing AC55 and how they sound rather than comparisons as most headphones have a completely different fit.
Introduction
Aune Audio is one of the top performers in the audio industry, having created some of the most popular and most memorable Amplifiers and DACs that the world has ever seen and heard. AC55 is actually a unique product for them, coming out of the blue to revive the clip-on ear headphone style, but they are a lavish, high-end approach to this design, something I did not see ever before. Aune products are available on Amazon as well as their own store, sometimes Aliexpress and they have some of the best track record, as you’re very unlikely to ever need warranty for an Aune product, but if you will need it, they will be there to deliver.
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Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4tuT3IT
Build Quality – Design
Aune designed the AC55 for a Reference-Class Diaphragm and magnetic circuit, and with a full-bodied sound in mind. To my knowledge, this is currently the only pair of earphones with a clip-on design that is this high-end, having a high-dynamic symmetric driver system. Compared to most clip-on designs, AC55 uses a W-Shaped Bio-Fiber composited diaphragm, and they have a 40mm driver, with a semi-memory allow ear hook.
Most clip-on designs designed to date use a 30mm driver, while AC55 uses a 40mm one, which is 70% larger in effective vibration area. Using a bio-fiber enhances stability and makes the driver more rigid, taking advantage of the setting to surround that diaphragm with an ultra elastic, long-excursion surround construction, to elevate the bass response.
Another optimization at the driver level can be found in the driver design by allowing for highly dynamic sounds to be produced, Aune providing generous room for the coil movement. This ensures that even loud recordings or highly dynamic ones will stay controlled and free of clipping. One of the main reasons to consider a clip-on design is the fact that the drivers will always stay in place, on your ears, so this type of approach is theoretically less dependent on your anatomy than usual headphones are.
To match with the premium earphones, Aune includes a high-quality cable with modular plugs, having both a 3.5mm single ended and a 4.4mm balanced jack connector, with 2-Pin connectors for the earphones. Technically, AC 55 has an impedance of 30 OHMs and a SPL or Sensitivity of 112 dB, with a THD or Total Harmonic Distortion of <0.3%. Each earphone has a weight of 35 grams, and they come with a transport pouch.
Subjective Usage
Wearing clip-on earphones is a different experience than headphones or IEMs, as they rest on your ears and hang on them. The main disadvantage is that the clip at the back needs you to have strong ears because the entire weight will be hanging there. This can get uncomfortable after a while but you can get used to it too.
The muffs warm up a bit, so AC55 is ideal in colder weather, but because they are attached to the ears, they are perfect for jogging and running, as they will not fall off your ears, and have one of the most secure types of fit possible.
There is almost no passive noise isolation, and leakage is about as high as with most open-back headphones as the back of the AC55 is open. Cable quality is incredibly good, it is a flexible cable that feels well-made and the copper color is just superb.
Sound Quality
Pairings – Aune AC55 is designed mainly for portability, and will work best with a portable source, but to give it a go, I paired it with a selection of sources, including FiiO K17, XL, Argon Audio SA-2 Amplifier Driven by FiiO Warmer R2R, Acer Nitro 18 AI Laptop (with 3.5mm adapters), Hiby Digital M500, and Luxsin X9.
Aune made the AC 55 very easy to drive and you don’t need a very powerful source for them to get loud or sound good, but they will have a higher dynamic range if fed enough power. AC Fifty five is not sensitive to source noise or background hiss, and they are enjoyable basically with most dongle DAC AMPs.
Overall Signature – Listening to the Aune AC55 Earclips feels interesting, they have a sound that is warm, but has a sharp definition in the treble, with a smooth, lush midrange. It works equally well for all music styles, and it is a relaxed, laid-back tuning, with a non-analytical approach and instead going for a musical, romantic and tuned for pleasure sound. This includes a big soundstage, and a strong impact at louder volumes.
Bass – Although it is not a bass canon, AC55 sounds like it has a focus on the bass and the low-end in general. Bass extends down to about 40 Hz, with some variation relative to how well they are clipped to your ears. For example, they are a bit loose on my ears, which causes the bass to be less extended, but if I push on the clips with my hands, the bass gets much stronger. Bass has an emphasized range between 70 Hz and 160 Hz, it feels warm, lush and a bit bloomy, aiding in the feeling of a romantic, pleasing tone for the AC55.
Midrange – Voicing is warm, romantic and AC55 has a middle that is free of veiling despite having a strong mid bass. Mid is a bit prone to crowding, so music that is simpler usually sounds best, and female lead songs are also better than male lead pieces. This means that pop, jazz and softer music generally plays best with AC55, or latino – italian music with an emphasis on rhythm and musicality, while this laid-back tone does not work as well for rock and metal.
Treble – Top end extends to about 11 kHz, with a gentle roll-off effect starting from around 6kHz, and with a slight peak appearing again at 11 kHz, after which it rolls off again. Like with the bass, treble extension and energy is dependent on your particular ears and how well the AC55 fits / sticks to your ears. The larger the distance between the earphones and your ears, the less treble and less bass you will hear, and the sound will vary significantly from person to person.
Dynamics And Textures – Dynamic range is natural, without compression or the sound feeling extra dynamic, while textures are laid-back, romantic and as far from analytical as you can imagine. AC55 just sounds full, lush, music has weight and body, presence and textures are not usually presented in a harsh manner, to the point where even bands like Rings Of Saturn or Infant Annihilator can sound romantic and musical, as AC55 reveals more guitar tone than cymbal crashes or drum pattern.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – Aune AC55 sounds more relaxed, smoother and more relaxed at lower volumes, and they get more dynamic, punchier and more vivid at higher volumes. There’s an increase in how dynamic, and how colorful, how vivid they are at louder volumes, but this may also be a direct result of the fit style and also of the romantic tuning. They handle ultra high volumes well, with very low distortion.
Soundstage – Staging is big, wide and romantic, with an emphasis on how well instruments blend together rather than how separated and layered they are. This means that AC55 creates a bigger than expected sound in general. Depth will be dependent on how they sit on your ears, and imaging is always good in the lateral plane, so the stereo imaging.
Value and Conclusion
Aune AC55 might be the most expensive Clip-On pair of earphones on the market today, but they are not one bit expensive considering the audiophile market, and instead they deliver a unique presentation that I like quite a lot, they come with detachable cables, which even have modular cables, AC 55 is a truly good deal if you want this style of earphone.
There are many ways to enjoy music, but I personally hold the clip-on design close to my heart as in 2010 I tried creating one, so over 16 years ago, and while I did not manage to create something as sweet and delicious sounding as AC55, I sure was trying to make something in this style and sound, so Aune delivers something that I once dreamed of making myself, delivering it sweet, lush and a bit bassy, all the things I expect someone who is buying AC55 to desire.
PROs
- Superb midrange with a lush and warm presentation
- Bloomy and powerful mid bass and upper bass
- Comfortable and practical
- Comes with a balanced cable, modular cable and that cable is even detachable
- Outstanding company behind the product, Aune Audio will be there for you
- Romantic, sweet and pleasing tune
- Top deal for a pair of open-earphones with a clippy fit
Cons
- Clip-On design is not for everyone
- Warm and bassy sound but bass roll-off is present
- Treble roll-off also present and sound relies heavily on how well they fit
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4tuT3IT
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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