aune AR9000 flagship open-back headphone impresses in first review

The aune AR9000 was launched internationally last night (July 26). The AR9000 is aune’s new open-back over-ear headphone, distinguished by its angled driver and earpad design. While the concept of angling the driver is not new, having previously appeared in headphones such as the Sennheiser HD 800 S and the Grell OAE2, aune has successfully leveraged this approach to achieve outstanding sound quality, as discussed below.

AR9000 Offers Improved Build Quality and Sound Over the AR5000 MK2

Like the AR5000 MK2, released in April of this year, the AR9000 is an open-back over-ear headphone equipped with a dynamic driver. However, the sonic performance of aune’s new flagship headphone clearly demonstrates a significant step up from its predecessor.

According to Resolve from The Headphone Show on YouTube, the AR9000 has a noticeably more premium feel than the AR5000 MK2, although the hinge and headband designs remain largely similar. This shared design reflects the structural improvements introduced in the second-generation AR5000, which addressed the headband durability issues found in the original model.

Modular Cable with Fabric Sleeve

Instead of using the plastic-sheathed braided cable found on the AR5000 MK2, aune opted for a fabric-covered cable design. According to Resolve, the fabric sleeve does not introduce microphonic noise, although it may be more prone to catching on sharp objects.

Despite its relatively thick appearance, the AR9000’s cable is lightweight. Another notable feature is its modular design, allowing users to swap between 6.35 mm, 4.4 mm, and XLR connectors.

Easy to Drive

From an amplification standpoint, the AR9000 is not particularly demanding. It features a 43-ohm nominal impedance and a sensitivity of 102 dB SPL at 1 kHz.

The Headphone Show also presented the AR9000’s impedance curve, where the highest measured impedance was approximately 50 ohms.

Sound Quality of the aune AR9000

From a sonic perspective, the aune AR9000 impressed Resolve to the point where he stated that the headphone does not require equalization. Considering that the reviewer typically applies at least minor EQ adjustments to virtually every headphone he evaluates, this represents particularly high praise.

During the review, Resolve commented that the AR9000 delivers exactly the amount of bass he prefers. While the bass is elevated, the boost is tastefully executed, a characteristic that is relatively uncommon among open-back headphones. In addition, the low-frequency response follows a smooth downward slope, helping maintain tonal coherence throughout the bass region.

In the midrange, there is a slight emphasis around 1 kHz, similar to that found in several headphones from the French manufacturer Focal. However, according to Resolve, the elevated bass response prevents this characteristic from sounding harsh, honky, or distorted.

Resolve also noted that the midrange does not sound nasal or shouty when reproducing vocals. However, the ear gain (pinna gain) region is somewhat more restrained. As a result, listeners may perceive a slight reduction in clarity and definition with genres such as jazz and acoustic music.

In the treble region, some coloration is present. Peaks around 6 kHz and 8 kHz may become noticeable or fatiguing for certain listeners. However, this perception varies considerably from person to person, as high-frequency ear canal resonance differs significantly among individuals.

Below is the frequency response graph of the aune AR9000 measured by reviewer Resolve using in-ear microphones.

aune AR9000 Specifications

• Headphone Type: Open-back over-ear
• Driver Type: 50 mm dynamic driver
• Frequency Response: 4 Hz–50,000 Hz
• Nominal Impedance: 43 Ω
• Sensitivity (at 1 kHz): 102 dB SPL
• Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) at 1 kHz: <0.03%
• Cable: 1.6 m silver-plated OCC copper cable
• Headphone Weight: Approximately 430 g
• Gross Package Weight: Approximately 2,800 g
• Inner Box Dimensions: 257 × 302 × 165 mm
• Outer Box Dimensions: 295 × 350 × 200 mm

What’s Included in the Box?

In addition to the headphone itself, the aune AR9000 package includes:

• Quick Start Guide
• 1.6 m silver-plated OCC copper cable
• Interchangeable modular plugs
• AuNest headphone carrying case

Launch, Pricing, and Availability

The aune AR9000 is now available internationally for US$1,399, €1,499, or £1,259 through the brand’s authorized distributors. To purchase from an official retailer, please refer to the list of authorized dealers available on aune’s official website.