AFUL MagicOne

AFUL MagicOne
1BA
$99 - $139

Before I begin this review, let me thank HiFiGO for sending the AFUL MagicOne in for review.
Rest assured, my review will always be 100% my own personal opinion.

Just in case you're interested on getting the MagicOne, you can get it on HiFiGO websites.
https://hifigo.com/products/aful-magicone

Not only that, HiFiGO now are currently on a Spring Sale, there are lots of good items that are on a discount check it out for yourself.

Unboxing

Build Quality


The shell made from full resin, not a hollowed one, It is very clear and free of bubbles / imperfection.

The faceplate is also inspired from a snowflakes.

One thing that are very eye catching is the Nautilus Inspired Resonator.

By the way the MagicOne is a vented BA, BUT it still has some kind of vacuum sensation when you wear the MagicOne in you ears.

Cable is very good, It has options to select, a standard 3.5mm or 4.4mm balanced.

Comfort

is very good despite the slight vacuum effects.


Sound

Tested using : FIIO M23, Kiwi Ears Allegro, Stock Cable, Stock Eartips
Music is mostly from Apple Music (J-POP, J-Rock, K-POP, Anisong, EDM, Metal, Rap, Jazz)
Tonality in General : Bass Boosted Neutral

Bass : The MagicOne bass presentation is somewhat mind blowing for a single BA design, probably thanks to its proprietary “Nautilus Resonator” tested on EDM music, the MagicOne has a full bodied bass punch not like your typical BA bass.
If I must describe the bass, it sounds almost like a planar bass rather than BA / DD bass, it is snappy, speedy, but has physicallity and body.


The bass quantity is not that boosted though, definitely won't satisfy bass heads.
The bass itself is boosted from sub bass to near mid bass, but it has a really clean transition to the midrange.

Midrange : Midrange is somewhat presented in a bit leaner manner. Not much but at least for my ears it's noticeable.
The midrange itself is very nice in terms of resolving capabilities and very musical.

Vocal sounds very detailed without getting too intense and shouty. Not only that, vocal is free from sibilance.
While instruments sounds intense and lively.

Overall timbre of the MagicOne is very spectacular for a BA IEM. It does not sound like a BA IEM at all.

Treble : is smooth and extended, it hasdecent micro details and resolving capabilities, again very good fora single BA IEM.

Usually for a single BA IEM, you must compromise either you want to focus on bass, midrange, or treble, but with the MagicOne, you can have it all, good bass, musical midrange, and extended treble.
I'm genuinely impressed by the MagicOne Tonality.

Technicalities
For a $139 USD Single BA IEM, I can say the MagicOne have a “Good” technicalities.


Stage : Medium sized
it has very good layering and object placement.
The shape of the stage is also symmetrical in terms of width and depth.

Imaging : Good
With the M23, the MagicOne has a unique imaging presentation, it sounds like sounds are popping out of void.
With the Kiwi Ears Allegro, theMagicOne sounds 2.5D to my ears.

Detail Retrieval : Good
The MagicOne is a very resolving IEM, it has textures on its bass, midrange, and treble.
Though if I must nitpick, the layering of the treble is just average, not like your more expensive IEMs with multiple driver OR a premium single DD.

Separation and Positioning : Good
It sounds well separated and the positioning is also very good, I have 0 issues using the MagicOne searching an object position both in music and games.

Comparison

Moondrop Starfield 2

More or less same bass boost, but Starfield 2 has more forward and intense and shouty midrange, the Starfield 2 also has that lean-ness to its sound.
Technicality wise, it is comparable or close.
Though I must give the edge to the MagicOne due to its more resolving capabilities.

Build wise, the MagicOne also better IMO compared to the Starfield 2 due to its full resin compared to the Moondrop painted metal (if you know, you know).

Conclusion

Is the AFUL MagicOne recommended?

YES.

I can easily recommends the MagicOne as a single driver options for sub $150 market.

At first to be honest with you, I was skeptical because it only has single BA, and usually single BA is just meh, both tonality and technicalities.
But not with the MagicOne, it just act like your typical standard single driver IEMs probably thanks to its Nautilus Resonator with a good technicalities and very good build quality.

Though one thing I must remind you, the MagicOne has some kind of vacuum effect while you wear it in your ears. Not the most annoying and intense vacuum effect but its still noticeable.


Thanks for reaching this far.

Just in case you're Indonesian or understand Bahasa Indonesia, you can watch the review of MagicOne here


-littlenezt.

Review Of The Aful MagicOne ​

Introduction​

The Performer5, a multi driver IEM from the freshly established AFUL business, made a big impression on the market last year because to its excellent sound quality and tuning, which many audiophiles, including myself, loved. Not to be outdone, this Chinese business also created an IEM called the Performer 8, which was warmly appreciated by audiophiles. I trust their creativity and new ideas because they clearly took their time implementing the real technologies they worked on and eventually succeeded. This is especially true of their recent release, Magic One, a single BA IEM with a comparable price to other IEMs on the market. Because of this, I had the good fortune to be able to evaluate it and determine whether or not they truly added value to an IEM. However, there are a few things I'd want to clarify before continuing.

Disclaimer​

*Since this unit tour was organised by the lovely people at HiFiGo, I am grateful to them. And as I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as “One.”
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the One based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

One full range balancing armature driver, specifically designed by Aful and utilizing cutting edge technology, is housed inside The One. By using a sophisticated acoustic structure and an RLC electro-acoustic network to compensate for the disparity between the driver and pure sound, the driver's SE-Math enables for superior high-frequency extension. Better bass is produced not just by technology but also by the manufacturing process of the shells, which include an acoustic tube that is incredibly thin and lengthy. In terms of how the shell feels and appears, it is entirely composed of medical resin, which has a stronger construction and a more upscale feel than that of its more mature brothers, the Performer 5 and Performer 8. The brand name is on one side and the IEM name is on the other in a polished patterned design on the shell plate. Thanks to the air pressure release port, all of the eartips I tried were able to create a flawless seal, thus the fit and comfort of a BA configuration are happily excellent. However, I have experienced some issues with most BA setups. The high quality OFC copper + copper-silver plated, 32+37 core wire arrangement cable that comes with the IEM is distinguished by its Litz type 4 coaxial shielded construction. A straight 3.5mm plug and two pin connectors are used to terminate the ends. The accessories consist of a metal case, three different size pairs of two different types of eartips, and the cord and hem. Regarding the technical details, the sensitivity is 103dB and the impedance is 38 Ohms. The range of the frequency response is 5 Hz to 35 kHz.

Sound​

A single BA IEM with full spectrum reproducing capability? feels kind of plausible because the idea itself isn't novel, but the manner it's done is. Various businesses like as Moondrop, Etymotic, Kbear, and so on, each have distinct sounds and appeal to different types of audiophiles. Similar reasoning applies to the One, which will appeal to a different subset of audiophiles who could enjoy this tuning but won't offer a distinctive sound or an enhancement over existing IEMs. Whether the price is justified or justifies the continuous hype is a difficult question to answer, but when I witness an IEM that can produce sound above its weight—that is, when the treble extends more than other IEMs and has a smooth texture that is not what I would expect from a BA—it does seem justified. The timbre is affected by the sharp tones produced by the majority of IEMs that I have encountered. For the One, there is no such thing as a variable. Additionally, the bass and mid range have been expertly adjusted to provide a more relaxed and smooth sound, making it easier to listen to. The bass was the first thing I needed to search for since, in my opinion, BA bass is not as authentic or organic as dynamic drivers. However, based on my evaluation, the bass quality is more than it appears. To shed more light on the matter and improve understanding, let me delve deeper into the sound of a single BA IEM that produces sound that is closer to a warm and genuine tone.

Treble​

The One establishes itself with excellent control over the treble range and smoothes the response by delivering rounder, cleaner notes instead of harsh, detailed ones, which aids in creating the impression of space and air. Enough coherence and expressiveness exists in the extension and energy to encourage a safer tuning. In order to keep the high notes active without detracting from the overall response and to eliminate any sibilance or peakiness in the mix, the upper treble sounds very expansive and well-preserved with air. The voices seem to lack depth overall, although they do extend out beautifully and seem bigger. Some find them light and somewhat slender, but generally the experience is superior. The voices are able to provide additional information, albeit not as much as you might anticipate because the reaction is neither forceful or proactive. The lower treble adds more energy that resonates with the upper treble and upper mid range. The smoother and more coherent response that the cleaner notes of the instruments and voices bring to the mix gives the vocals and instruments a feeling of linear approach while yet sounding sufficiently expansive and vibrant. It's comparable, in my opinion, to other IEMs with similar or greater texture and details when set with multiple or a single driver. Although I won't claim that these sound the greatest, I must admit that the driver's ability is impressive given the work it takes to elicit such a response. In my opinion, the planar provides a sound with greater clarity and detail, but it also contributes a peakiness similar to that of the S12 or timeless. In this case, however, the DD or multi-driver, such as the EML6 or ARIA 2, manages the element that sounds much more compelling and transient while settling in the middle. Thus, the treble area is presented generally in a smooth, clear, and expansive sounding manner.

Mid Range​

The mid-range is a mixed bag here, as most IEMs in this price range bring a forward presentation with a lively and open sound, whereas the One allows for the same presentation but the response is not as forward as one might expect, as if the vocals are far too smooth for it to sound as presentable as it should. As someone who likes a neutral sound with a sub bass increase, I would have rather heard a more forward-looking vocal performance. The overall mix of the voices and instruments seems to have no layering between them, with both elements existing in a straightforward yet deliberately separated manner.The upper mid range has a more realistic sound by emphasizing the note weight more than the lower treble, which sounds essentially the same. The vocals are in the middle of the stage, creating a roomy reaction that reverberates with the instruments and aids in distancing. In addition to sounding safe and devoid of any unpleasant undertones, the notes have a more organic, warm character. The depth in the lower notes, which give the impression that the notes are warm but not heavy enough to sound more full, still bothers me even if it sounds warm and communal. While it does contribute to a nice and serene approach in the higher frequencies, the lower mid range sounds hazy and has less definition, which is acceptable. Although the notes have good note weight as predicted, they don't meet the desired level of quality, such as a rich and organic response. In this case, I found that any IEMs that use DD have better control and yield better results. As a result, the mid range sounds dead yet is presented in a warm, roomy, and serene manner overall.

Bass​

I was very careful with the bass since, unless it's utilized to create the bass texture and subtleties, the puffy, arterial-like sounding bass of BA bass worries me the most. But in this instance, I think the bass—particularly the smashes and thumps—sounds more dynamic than in any other BA. Since the One is a full range BA, it provides some great bass that sounds thicker and more natural than any other BA IEM, which is new to me. Generally, IEMs with a BA sound more puffy and distorted, and to some extent this is true with the One as well. Given more time, I didn't find it to have a particularly distinctive sound, nor did I find it to be my favorite, but it performed its function superior to that of any other single BA IEM. The sub bass range, where it stretches smoothly and generates decent punches that feel forceful, is where the emphasis is greater. Around 100–300 Hz is when the bass produces clearer notes, and the mid bass sounds slamming and thundering. Although the notes don't sound as well as those of other BA IEMs, they seem more lively and resonant. Although they sound a little forced or incomplete, the guitar's bottom notes and percussion nonetheless accomplish their intended purpose. To put it simply, I find it remarkable that a single BA was able to get such a reaction, but not to the extent that I would prefer the quality of it. As a result, the bass area is presented in a warm, subtle, and effective manner overall.

Technical Performance​

Regarding the One's technical capabilities, I think it performs averagely and seems less technical than previous BA IEMs or other IEMs in that regard. However, in other areas, such as separation and staging, it sounds superior to all other IEMs. Let's talk more about it.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

The soundstage is vast and broad, allowing for a large sound, and it is more stereo expanded than fully 360 surround. The imaging is crisp and clean, although I had anticipated more distinct and crisper notes. However, the average spacing between the notes makes it easier to distinguish where the music is originating from since it makes it straightforward to identify its source.

Speed & Resolution​

While the resolution is sufficient to bring out nice details, both macro and micro, when compared to other IEMs in the same price range, I find that the details on other BA sets are much more expressive and crisp. The notes' assault and fade are metered fairly, enabling a prompt reaction without rushing or losing your cool.

Sound Impressions ​

Sources​

Sony WM1A - The One never quite lived up to my expectations when paired with the WM1A; instead, it sounded more spacious and had a gentler response in the upper frequencies, creating a more balanced profile that highlighted the warm response. The voices had the biggest impact since they seemed relaxed throughout the entire answer, but when they were meant to be upfront, they were instead, and they sounded convincing enough to come across as authentic. The bass response seemed heavier and more distinct, resonating with that large area.

Tempotec V6 - The One seemed more upfront and clear when paired with the V6, especially in the midrange. The details were better, the bass was more in control and crisp, and the notes had more punch. In contrast to the pairing of WM1A, the response's expansive sound was overall richer and more rounded out.

Tracks​

Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Guns 'N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeR
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measures
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex, Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

To conclude this review, I would like to draw two conclusions. I understand that paying $150 for a single BA IEM is highly questionable when the sound is not very technically or tonally advanced but still satisfying, but I also understand that the technology used and how it is used is very interesting and respectable, as this could be the first single BA IEM to achieve a unique response. Second, I believe the business published it to see how well it was accepted by audiophiles. To be honest, it is entirely up to you whether or not you want to see technical growth and innovation in electro-acoustic products. However, I would suggest this IEM not just for its nice tone and solid specifications, but also for how intelligently and technically it is constructed.

Thaslaya's star rating system:
☆☆☆☆☆ - Best in class/buy it now
☆☆☆☆ - Highly recommended
☆☆☆ - Sound for thee, not for me
☆☆ - Can't see the appeal
☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer:
This product was purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

Gear used:
●LG v30+
●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra
●Hiby FC4

Source:
●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD. Due to the limitations of volume with 3.5mm connection, all listening was done with stock 4.4mm cable through Hiby FC4.

Introduction:
Aful has been doing well with their release of the Performer 5 and Performer 8, both receiving tons of praise. Here we have the MagicOne which sports a single balanced armature driver and a unique acoustic tube design. The MSRP is $139.99 which seems pricey for an iem in 2024 that consists of just a single BA driver. Let's break them down and see if it's worth the price of entry.

Build, fit, ergonomics:
The MagicOne comes with your choice of 3.5mm or 4.4mm termination. After reading other users mentioning these needing power, I opted for 4.4mm. The cable is great quality and the aestetics match very well with the shell design. Just like other Aful products, they come with silicone tips, a nice cable, and the puck style case. I don't personally care for this style of case but to each their own. I did get some occasional pressure build up with deep insertion but it usually resolved itself.

Sound impressions:
The first word that comes to mind when listening to the MagicOne: smooth. Velvety smooth. Actually shocked that Aful was able to create this sound with just a single BA. The technicalities are average to above average for the price range. The soundstage is neither narrow nor wide. I'd say it's positioned well in the middle where instruments can be heard well without competing too much for attention. The tuning is a touch on the warmer side but there is plenty of sparkle in the treble. The highs do roll off a bit early and I wish there was just a little more air up top.

●Lows - BA drivers have a reputation for poorer quality and quantity of bass compared to other drivers and deservedly so. However, I feel the bass is adequate here. Definitely not bass anemic whereas i can actually hear the sub rumble on certain tracks. Other all BA iems I've had were lacking there. The sub and mid bass will satisfy most listeners but not those looking for v-shaped or bassheads.

●Mid - This is where things get magical. The vocals are pushed to the front of the stage but not overly so. Both male and female voices sound so good. They are a bit warmed over which plays right into my personal preference. No shoutiness anywhere in sight. I found the best vocal performance when paired with soft pop like Adele and John Mayor - could listen for hours and hours like a warm blanket.

●Highs - There is plenty to like about the treble. It sparkles and shimmers but never gets sibilant. I would have liked a bit more air in the top end but that's pretty nitpicky.

●Balanced:
As I stated earlier, the MagicOne really need a bit of power to bring out full enjoyment. I was able to get to a respectable volume with the 3.5mm on my LGv30 and S22 Ultra but I do enjoy cranking my music from time to time. I would recommend getting an amp to anyone who plans to purchase these. A dongle DAC should supply enough to let the MagicOne shine.

Summary:
Aful back at it again with an excellent iem. The MagicOne's tuning is very smooth and enjoyable. It may not appeal to those who prefer a brighter and more energetic sound signature. The bass is the best I've heard from an all BA set let alone one with just a single BA. Treble has plenty of sparkle and sounds great but it does roll off just a tad early. The power requirements and price may be the biggest limiting factors especially when there are no shortage of options in the $150 range. For me personally, these sounded best with pop, soft rock, country, and vocal centric genres. The MagicOne is aptly named because Aful pulled a fantastic set out of their proverbial hat!