High End 2023: Masterpiece: Vision Ears x Astell&Core AURA

There weren’t too many in-ears to see or hear at this year’s High End, but one clearly stood out visually and acoustically: The AURA by Vision Ears, manufactured in cooperation with Astell&core.

Like the Odyssey before it, which was produced by Empire Ears for Astell&core was produced, The AURA will only be available in a limited edition of 600 worldwide, making it a collector's item.

At the High End, I had the opportunity not only to listen extensively to the AURA, but also to talk to Vision Ears co-founder Amir and chief developer Oliver about their latest project.

I was told that the production of the AURA was very complex and that new production techniques had to be found in order to even be able to produce the "jewel" in this form.

Was the effort worth it? Let's take a closer look at the AURA...

What immediately catches my eye is the striking case with its gold faceplate, which immediately reminded me of jewelry. I find the design very aesthetically pleasing and high-quality, and you can clearly see and feel the effort that went into it.

Clearly visible, by the way, are the "air vents" that make the AURA an open IEM – a design rarely seen in the in-ear sector. Personally, I only know the Black Hole and Black Hole Mini Wood from Shozy, which uses an open construction.

The advantage: As with large headphones, this open design achieves a larger soundstage.

The Aura is supplied with a specially designed Effect Audio The copper cable, manufactured in-house, is a perfect visual match for the AURA. In general, the focus was on creating a harmonious "total work of art" that does justice to a limited edition in this price range.

The AURA consists of 11 drivers per side and a custom crossover. According to Vision Ears, all components were specially developed in-house.

Let's get to the sound

Okay, the thing looks incredibly good and is well-made, but does the sound live up to the hefty price tag? We tested this extensively with the Cayin N7 and the Astell&core SP3000 Copper as sources.

After just a few minutes of listening, a satisfied grin spreads across my face. Yes, this is a very special IEM, definitely not an "off-the-shelf" product.

The AURA immediately delivers an extremely clear and detailed sound. The highs impress with their airiness and a high level of detail without any harshness.

Voices sound extremely natural and are easily brought to the forefront of the action, giving them presence and emphasis.

Instruments and singers are clearly audible and localizable without the overall sound suffering.

The bass goes deep, but always remains perfectly controlled, tight, crisp and neutral or slightly raised in the best sense.

Overall, the AURA's tuning is rather neutral. Nothing is overdone, yet it manages to avoid being boring and, on the contrary, evoke emotions in the listener. That's exactly how it should be!

In my mind's eye, I can see a slightly W-shaped frequency curve, which is confirmed on paper by Oliver, the chief developer at Vision Ears.

The AURA harmonizes perfectly with Cayin’s N7 and the SP3000 from Astell&core.I even suspect that the AURA is generally not a problem with the source connected. Of course, you should use a suitable amp or DAP to fully exploit the AURA's potential.

Image: Oliver from Vision Ears with his "masterpiece".

Conclusion

The VISION EARS x Astell&The Kern AURA is a very special IEM. In terms of sound, design, and craftsmanship, you can see and feel that a lot of work and even more passion went into this product. and the future owners will receive a limited edition collector's item that will bring them joy for many years.

For me personally, the AURA is the best thing I've ever heard from Vision Ears. Bravo!

The AURA is now available for pre-order from us: VISION EARS x Astell&Core AURA

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