The Auribus Acoustics Sierra Aluminum Headphones Assessment

Everybody is aware of Hifiman, Audeze, and Sennheiser for his or her audiophile headphones. Manufacturers like Meze Audio and Dan Clark additionally stand out, however what if we entered one other new contender? We have reviewed Auribus Acoustics at Audio46 earlier than, taking a look at their Sierra Reference headphone. Additionally they have the Sierra Aluminum open-back headphone, which retails for $1600. This open-back headphone enters a crowded area of competitors, so what makes it stand out? On this evaluation, we check out all the small print of this headphone that make it a stand-out in a stacked line-up. 

Having reviewed the Auribus Acoustics Sierra Reference previously, the Sierra Aluminum headphone was not one thing fully new and unfamiliar. The bodily design was basically the identical, save for the aesthetic variations that come from differing supplies. Because the identify suggests, the Sierra Aluminum options an aluminum body, which supplies the headphone a distinctly industrial look. The metallic is not polished to look fully stable, and as a substitute has a rougher, washed end to present it a pure design. The honeycomb caging that the motive force sits behind, plus the metallic shell, is certainly a modern design that catches your eye in any setting. The extra I had it on my desk throughout testing, the extra fond I grew of the design. 

When it comes to consolation, the Sierra Aluminum was simply as comfy because the Sierra Reference. Because the total form and measurement are the identical, you may discover that the Sierra Aluminum supplies the identical degree of consolation and match as its predecessor. The Sierra Aluminum weighs in a bit heavier than the Sierra Reference, which might be a great or unhealthy factor relying in your consolation preferences. I preferred the slight additional weight of the Sierra Aluminum, giving the headphones a extra luxurious really feel. 

The Sierra Aluminum is just not too troublesome to drive, however they undoubtedly profit from a further amplifier. Utilizing DAC/Amps just like the Chord MOJO 2, the iFi Gryphon, or the desktop K15 from FiiO have been all nice equipment to the Sierra Aluminum and gave it the ability it wanted to achieve its full potential. 

• Weight: 400g Headphones (With out cable)
• Housing: Polished Stable Aluminum 
• Building: Nylon, Aluminum, and PETG
• Driver: 50mm Paper Cone Dynamic Driver
• Impedance: 20 Ω at 1kHz

(Relying on quantity choice, a 280mW @32 Ω amplifier with <1 Ω output load is really useful for an optimum expertise. )

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Now for the listening evaluation. The Sierra Aluminum presents a really giant soundstage, actually increasing the horizontal house to create a large stereo picture. You might be put proper within the heart of your tracks, with the sound surrounding you on the perimeters and increasing up and again. The headphone presents an efficient wall of sound that’s entertaining and actually blocks out the world round you. The imaging itself is not essentially the most correct, however you might be nonetheless in a position to place devices in entrance of you fairly effectively. There’s a distinct separation to make particular person components have their very own second with out being overshadowed by one thing else. I felt like I used to be in the course of my listening, with a large horizontal sound, after which at a reasonably respectable peak. 

When it comes to an total signature, the Sierra Aluminum may be very balanced and dynamic. Throughout the frequency ranges, you possibly can hear how all of them matched in vitality and energy to create a reasonably even image proper in entrance of you. I preferred that it wasn’t a flat picture in entrance of you, however as a substitute one thing with shiny highs and punchy lows that created a really entertaining signature. You’ll be able to run a bunch of various genres by way of these headphones and be met with pure, sincere timbres within the sound replica. The signature is probably not match for reference listening and mixing use instances, however you may undoubtedly have the ability to do some analytical listening to catch all of the minute particulars.  

BASS FREQUENCIES

Now we have a look at the person ranges. The bass frequencies stand out as a superb characteristic and spotlight of the signature. The bass frequencies are actually outstanding and punchy, coming in to take up a number of house on the low finish of the frequency spectrum. It is not overwhelming to be the one factor you discover or the defining attribute of the sound signature. It takes a textured method and focuses on the small print and character of all of the devices versus simply the physique. I preferred that the bass had a great quantity of depth and total heat that made an excellent basis for different frequencies to construct up from. I used to be in a position to recognize all of the tonal variations of the low-end devices, with their textures and timbres being simply produced and identifiable. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange frequencies are ahead intimately and push the vocals to the entrance of the soundstage. The layers and depth of the soundstage grow to be extra noticeable on this vary, creating separate areas for all of the devices that may make the mids crowded.  You get a number of element in these layers, and the textures come by way of simply to make analytical listening attainable. Giant instrumental ensembles have been very enjoyable to hearken to, particularly orchestras that had a number of midrange element. Devices received their very own areas to shine with out being overpowered by each other, and with the wonderful imaging supplied, you possibly can actually image every part proper in entrance of you and wrapping round you. The replica of those midrange devices feels pure and sincere, however there may be nonetheless an added coloration to make listening enjoyable and fascinating versus flat. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

The treble is shiny and has a number of coloration that rounds out the signature. I would not say it’s the most outstanding half, however the aluminum housing makes the brilliant frequencies stand out a bit of extra. The treble vary carried by way of the entire signature to make all the weather a bit brighter and extra exact. You may additionally hear the house within the soundstage with the openness within the high finish. I preferred how instrumentals received a burst of openness and brightness within the ultra-high vary, the place you possibly can hear the reverberations of devices within the house. It was an excellent complement to the low finish, and it made the signature really feel complete and balanced.

Wanting on the different choice by Auribus Acoustics, it is smart to see how the 2 evaluate. With the Sierra Reference being $400 cheaper than the Sierra Aluminum, are you lacking out on an enormous leap in high quality by going for one choice over the opposite? The largest distinction between the Sierra Aluminum and the Sierra Reference is within the sound signature. The Sierra Reference sounds because the identify suggests, with a flat response that’s impartial and really pure. It’s a headphone that’s made to your audio mixing and analytical job. The Sierra Aluminum is a little more dynamic and enjoyable, with an added aptitude and coloration to make it extra for leisure. The shiny aluminum body provides you an aesthetic distinction, and it clues you in to the sonic variations between them. The brightness of the Sierra Aluminum is completely different from the Sierra Reference’s extra laid again and even presentation, and each are heavy intimately, so you are not lacking a factor. 

The Sierra Aluminum headphone is a superb selection for audiophiles searching for one thing completely different. The form of the Auribus Acoustic headphone can be acquainted to those that know the design, however anybody who’s simply being launched can be pleasantly shocked by the comfy match. The headphone is not very arduous to drive, but it surely pairs effectively with any DAC or amplifier to enrich the already dynamic signature. I loved this headphone fairly a bit, and I’d extremely advocate this headphone to somebody not afraid to dive into one thing new and sudden. 

The Sierra Aluminum headphone is on the market at Audio46.