7Hz has been one of the brands to watch ever since it released the Timeless back in 2021. That IEM is, in no small part, responsible for the influx of planar magnetic IEMs that have now become a regular feature in this space, pushing in-ear monitors into new and exciting territory. At this point, it’s a classic, but all things change in time. 7Hz has officially unveiled its new flagship: the 7Hz Aurora.
The Aurora is a thoroughly interesting IEM. Visually, it’s wholly unique with faceplates that look inspired by Damascus steel but are actually made of titanium. There are four different drivers inside each shell, composed of one huge dynamic driver, one planar magnetic driver, and two balanced armatures. It’s not the typical tribrid we see but is well-balanced, dynamic, and detailed. At $399, it faces stiff competition but is a worthy pick-up for music and games.
Specifications
- Current Price: $399 (Linsoul)
- Drivers: 1 DD (12mm) + 1 Planar (6mm) + 2 BA
- Sensitivity: 105dB
- Impedance: 30 Ohms
- Connector: 0.78mm 2Pin
- Plug: 3.5mm and 4.4mm
7Hz Aurora - First Impressions and Key Features
The 7Hz Aurora is one of my most anticipated IEMs of the year. As a big fan of the Timeless, when I heard that 7Hz would be releasing a new flagship, and that it would only cost $399, I knew I had to reach out and see if I could receive a sample set to try out and share. It was a long wait but well worth it.
The Aurora is gorgeous. Its faceplates are made of titanium filaments that change color depending on how the light hits them. One moment, they’re all blue, the next a mix of blue, purple, and magenta, and the next a full rainbow. The striped design reminds me of damascus steel, which is often found in expensive knives. In a time when just about everything seems to have been done in IEMs, 7Hz managed to debut something unique, and kudos to them for it.
Internally, the IEMs use a very unique driver structure. It’s a tribrid but trades the usual expensive electrostatic driver for a 6mm planar magnetic driver. It works in conjunction with a massive, 12mm dynamic driver, and two balanced armatures. The dynamic covers the bass while the BAs cover the mids and planar handles the upper mids and highs.
This configuration lends the Aurora exceptional technical capability. It’s detail retrieval is excellent and both music and games come through with a full-bodied crispness. It’s a whole different flavor compared to the Timeless, but it’s one that I’ve really enjoyed spending time with. It can be a bit bright on some tracks, and while not fatiguing to me personally, it could be to some. I tend to feel like its brighter, more etched sound signature gives it character — and that’s important, as there’s some exceptionally good competition around this price point now.
The downside is one that impacts pretty much every tribrid: size. The Aurora isn’t small. I have medium-sized ears (I consider myself fairly average to slightly below) and they stick out of my ears quite a bit. 7Hz includes a selection of ear tips to help you find a comfortable fit, including three pairs of their own, and three pairs of JVC SpinFit tips. With the SpinFits, I found them comfortable to wear for extended periods, but smaller listeners may experience some ear fatigue after an hour or two.
The earphones come with a nice cable, as well as a travel case for storage in a bag. (It’s too big to be easily pocketable). I really like the cable. It’s thick and well-braided, composed of gold-plated copper. It’s not microphonic though it is on the stiff side out of the box. It also comes with modular terminations, allowing you to pull off one jack and replace it with another. Included is a 3.5mm single-ended connection and a 4.4mm balanced connection to connect with different source gear.
It’s a decent package for the investment, comparing about on par with the AFUL Performer 8 and the Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK, two of its biggest competitors.
7Hz Aurora - Listening Impressions
Graph Credit: Vortex Reviews via Squig.link
The 7Hz Aurora is a very good pair of IEMs with an enjoyable and well-balanced sound. They have a U-shaped signature that leans more heavily into the upper-mids and treble for an exceptional sense of clarity and detail. They’re a fairly sensitive set, making them easy to drive, but you’ll want to be careful not to overpower these to keep those highs tame. With proper volume, however, they’re a revealing set with excellent imaging.
Bass: The low-end on this set is well done with good extension into the sub-bass, but it’s not overpowered at all. Instead, there’s enough here to give music a good sense of body without bleeding into the mids. Like many things in life, it’s about the quality and not the quantity with this set. There’s enough that most listeners won’t find it lacking, but it really shines with the texture it offers.
This bass isn’t what I would call cinematic, but it is high quality. If you’re looking for big booms in games or to have your ears rumbled, this probably isn’t the set for you. The low end is about balance and quality more than wowing you with how much there is.
Mids: The mids are interesting on this set. After listening to it for a while, the u-shape seems to recess vocals and team callouts a bit. At the same time, there’s a distinct rise in the frequency response chart at 1kHz that points to 7Hz trying to rectify this. It works when vocals are fairly forward and loud in the mix but you can hear that recession when singers or callouts are quieter, like the beginning of Living Sacrifice by UPPERROOM or i get overwhelmed sometimes by Abbie Gamboa. Turning the volume up also fixes this but risks making the treble too hot in the process.
With that said, this is a pretty minor issue if you’re not looking for very forward vocals as a selling point. You can hear them just fine and they still sound good, and you’re not going to miss footsteps or team callouts. It stands out if you’re listening for it but is also the kind of quality most people will easily acclimate to if they notice at all.
Treble: The upper-mids and treble are the stars of the show here. There’s a brightness to the upper register that makes for a highly detailed listening experience. You’ll hear lots of small details that other sets mask, like the attack of piano keys, or strings hanging in the background providing atmosphere to what you’re listening to. For gaming, sounds like breaking glass and the reverberation of footsteps in hallways is more prominent. There’s a greater sense of air to the listening experience, which enhances the Aurora’s spaciousness. Hi-hats and cymbals step forward quite a bit.
This tuning uniquely characterizes the Aurora compared to the competition. They’re detail powerhouses that emphasize the upper harmonics of instruments and audio cues. They sound crisp and have a sparkly quality that works exceptionally well for piano and acoustic tracks.
Soundstage and Imaging: The soundstage and imaging are very good. I found the listening experience to be exceptionally wide and deep. The tuning and rise in the air frequencies work together to create this perception. It’s also quite immersive with sounds seeming to come from distinct directions. This is perfect for gaming but makes for a fun listening experience with music too — especially live tracks.
Gaming: This is a very good set for gaming. Its soundstage and image lend themselves very well to gaming. Though I’d prefer a bit more bass for gaming, having quality bass still works to make games sound better and enhance immersion. Sniper rifles can be a bit hot, however, so if you’re treble-sensitive or need that extra bass, a bit of EQ is in order.
Comparisons: The two biggest competitors facing the Aurora right now are the Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK ($360) and the AFUL Performer 8 ($370). Both are cheaper, are extremely competitive, and make the Aurora feel a bit too expensive.
Starting with the DUSK, I made it clear how much I fancied it in my original review. It is a stellar set that punches well above its class. It has more bass than the Aurora and a smoother presentation. Both IEMs are detailed, both offer air and sparkle. The difference is that, while the DUSK is characterized by its bass and smooth transitions, the Aurora is characterized by its upper-mids and treble detail. Neither lack in that department but the Aurora is more up front. It’s going to really be a matter of what you prefer more, the DUSK’s more low-tilting tuning or the Aurora’s high.
The AFUL Performer 8 is another set that I really liked. It also offers lots of detail and a high-res listening experience throughout. Here, the difference is with the shape of its tuning. The P8 offers most of what the Aurora offers but without such an emphasized “U” to the listening experience. It’s the set to choose if you want a more neutral listening experience. I also give the edge to the Aurora in soundstage and the forwardness of details.
Overall Impressions and Final Thoughts
The 7Hz Aurora is a great pair of IEMs. They’re very enjoyable to listen to, especially if you like that bit of extra brightness to bring the details out. Its unique tribrid configuration gives it a unique presentation and hits some of the same notes that made the Timeless such a hit.
Yet, in this price range, we also have at least two very strong competitors that cost less and will match certain preferences better. With the Aurora costing $399, you’re left paying a lot extra for its character and presentation. I would love to see 7Hz scale the price down. At $350, it’s an instant buy. At $399, you really need to stop and think. It’s a great set but doesn’t feel like the best value at the current price.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Articles may include affiliate links from which we may earn a small commission to help support the site. Authors do not earn affiliate revenue or commissions.
