Aune AR5000 Full-Size Open-Back Headphones with MLD Driver, Dynamic Driver, Detachable Cable, Over-Ear HiFi Hi-Res Audiophile Headphones for HiFi System, Home Audio, DAP

Equipped with only a recommendation I purchase this headphone over the Equipped with only a recommendation I purchase this headphone over the HD 490 Pro plus for COD competitiveness. Not only for its appearance, durability and quality but for performance. However this did not translate to gaming. Until I tried it for myself.After using these headphones for a few days I noticed a dramatic improvement in sound quality in cod: mw3. Not only was I able to hear the direction of opponent's footsteps I was able to hear them reloading and firing when hidden in a corner. Opponent audio cues are slightly different from your teammates. Something I didnt know until I used the AR5000! I did not hear this difference in other iems like the Tea 2, Orchestra Lite, Hype 4 and other headphones like the Sennheiser 598se, 560, etc.Be mindful that the orchestra lite is one of the most recommended iems for gaming.VERTICALITY:Although not as prevalent in 6v6 Versus Warzone I was able to know when enemies were in a room through an open window.SEPARATION:One of the best I've heard so far. In 6 V6 you can hear gunshots of multiple people, streaks going off, people talking in chat. I can still tell the direction of opponent's audio cue in a 6v6 maps. Something that I could not do with other iems and headphones that I've tried.RESOLUTION:Clarity is exceptional for the ar5000. Even when there's other audio clutter (ambient noise, etc). What I want to hear I can hear it. Like opponent audio cues. From my experience the orchestra lite's are the most muddy when it comes to resolution in cod.IMAGING:Simply the best. No if ands or buts. I've tried other iems and headphones that I didn't own and do own. The ar5000 differentiate opponent gunshots, reloading, foosteps, etc. Everything else I've tried so far only seems to do well with just footstep audio. For example I can hear two gunshots. With the ar5000 I know one is my opponent to the left and my team rate to the right. I instinctually know to go to the left to take out the opponent.SOUND STAGE:Is one of the best that I've heard so far. And compared to the tea 2, Orchestra lite, hype 4, 598 se, 560, etc they are the most accurate. Some of the others are either accurate but muddy. Although it's pinpoint the resolution is bad. Or too forward. Which means that it makes the opponent audio sound closer then they actually are.I did not realize how bad a forward sound stage versus having a soundstage that is too wide. Too wide means that opponent audio is simply further away than they actually are. But in this case being too forward means that they have yet to come. It makes opponent audio sound like they're right around the corner. But when you get the jump on them they're visually 5-10 steps further away from the door, corner, window, steps, etc then you initially heard through positional audio. This makes the ar5000 very accurate, sharp and clear for positional audio cues.CAVEATS:I do this with all other headphones and iem's I've tried. I use GT's audio profile EQ and AiW Warzone Audio Setup on PC. Using either Home Theater or Cinematic in COD Audio Section. All using a DAC/AMP combo.The Headphone, HP Boost, PC Speaker Options in COD doesn't have enough separation between the gun shoots and foosteps versus all other audio cues in the match.HIGHLY IMPORTANT WAY TO WEAR THE AR5000:There is a particular way that you have to put these headphones on. Once the ear cups are over your ears slide the ear cups forward until it stops or you meet resistance. Which is towards your nose or mouth area. Due to the angle of the drivers this provides optimum soundstage.FINAL CONCLUSION:Overall the AR5000 is very comfortable. However it's questionable about the ear cup modability. It is the only detractor versus the HD 490 Pro Plus that I found so far. However, I have not found a reason to change the ear cups on this headphone. I have not found a need to adjust it yet. Out the box they fit me just fine. So adjustability is a plus for me.However, It's ability to allow you to hear the audio cues that you need to hear in a competitive first person shooter like COD is phenomenally exceptional. For the price point versus other MORE EXSPENSIVE iems and headphones that can do similarly. I cannot recommend this ar5000 enough.

First off, I'm not a crazy audiophile but I have been into audio and recording for 30 years. I own Hifiman Ananda, Sennheiser HD6xx, Sony MDR-7506, Moondrop Kato IEMs, and now these. I listen through a fully balanced setup starting from my desktop gaming PC into an Aune S9c DAC/Amp and an Xduoo MT-604 tube amp. I just received these in the mail today and just got done with about a 2 hour listening session including the entire 50th Anniversary remastered Dark Side of the Moon album. My brief impressions so far will be focused on how these compare to the HD6xx...First off, unboxing them feels like a premium experience, much more so than HD 6xx or than the price would suggest. The headphone itself also looks and feels premium. Its light, but not as light as the HD6xx. They are also extremely comfortable, however be warned that if you have a small head, you might have a problem with these. My hat size is 7.25 (I think) and these are on the smallest setting on my head. On top of that, there is very little clamp force. The 6xx have FAR more clamp. This adds to the overall comfort but truth be told I would prefer a little more clamp, any sudden head movements do cause these to shift and may even fall off. Maybe I have a narrow head but I don't think so. Still, they feel very nice on my head, the pads are great too.There have been a lot of comparisons to the HD6xx and I see why. Aune engineers CLEARLY used the 6xx as a baseline for tuning the frequency response of these. They are so similar that I am using almost identical EQ settings for these as I do for my 6xx. However, there are differences that are immediately noticeable. First of all, I actually think these are more well tuned out of the box than the 6xx, at least to my preference. These without question have more low end than the 6xx (bass). They also accept more low end boost via EQ than the 6xx, although I didn't find it necessary to boost more than 4 db under 100 Hz. As far as mids and highs go, they are spectacular, and very similar to the 6xx. I actually cut a few frequencies out of the lower mids and boosted them a little around 12 kHz, neither of which I do with the 6xx, but thats just what I felt suited these. These EQ corrections are all very small, less than 1 db. Truthfully, the out of the box tuning of these is pretty much spot on.The biggest difference between these and the 6xx, and biggest reason to buy them over the 6xx, is without question the soundstage and imaging. They are flat out better, no question about it. The stage isn't as expansive as my Hifimans, but it really doesn't need to be. I find them to be a great middle ground between the 6xx and Ananda. I haven't spent any real time gaming with them yet, but I tried them briefly and could tell immediately that I'm going to prefer them for gaming. I can't really get more specific than that right now.So far I'm happy with these and I think anyone would be hard pressed to find something to complain about, especially at the price point. I wouldn't say I find these "mind blowing", but I do agree with a lot of other reviewers in that they are a very good "upgrade" from the 6xx, and without costing that much more. If you love the 6xx as I do, these are a really safe bet. All in all another winner from Aune.