AüR Audio Hermit Review
Pros:
1. Very Impactful Bass
2. Outstanding soundstage build by bass
3. Overall TOTL IEM, in my opinion
Cons:
1. Not for treble head
AüR Hermit
AüR Audio is a new IEM brand established in Singapore in 2022. They specialize in flagship-level IEMs, aiming to provide higher-specification sound at a reasonable price. For a while, I was looking for a new IEM but could not find one I liked. One day, while browsing Head-Fi, I stumbled upon this brand. Although it's niche, it generally has overwhelmingly positive reviews, which piqued my curiosity. By chance, and through a solid friendship, I got my hands on Hermit. After listening to them, I suddenly felt compelled to write something, hence this piece. This is my first time writing this type of review, so please feel free to correct me if I use any incorrect terms or misunderstandings!
Conclusion: Hermit is an IEM with very strong low-frequency resolution, a rich midrange, and moderate high-frequency brightness (overall resolution is very strong, but the low-frequency resolution is just too outstanding). It's versatile and very suitable for listening to EDM and ACG music.
Unboxing/Cavity/Accessories: To be honest, the unboxing process was nothing special; it's just a black box with a logo containing the case, and inside is the Hermit. The IEM case has a very good touch, seemingly the same as XENNS's case. Their body uses a common resin housing, with the faceplate featuring a texture resembling alternating blue-black minerals and mica fragments. Tiny specks of glitter subtly glow under light within the gaps in the texture, a subtle yet sophisticated design I really like. The faceplate also features AüR's gold logo, and the overall design is to my liking.
The accessories are simple: besides the earphone case, there's a cable and three pairs of AET07-like ear tips (large, medium, and small). It's a pity that the cable only mentions copper wire without further details. The cable itself is a soft, blue braided material, and the color matches the earphone body perfectly, which is a big plus.
Specifications/Configuration: Hermit uses:
• 2 Sonion dual low-frequency balanced armature drivers (sub-bass)
• 2 Sonion bone conduction drivers (mid-bass)
• 2 AüR self-developed mid-range balanced armature drivers (mid-range)
• 4 Knowles dual high-frequency balanced armature drivers (treble)
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Impedance: 7Ω @ 1 kHz
Sensitivity: 106 dB @ 130 mV
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): < 1% @ 130 Mv
Power Requirement: Although the specifications suggest that the Hermit should be relatively easy to drive, it is still recommended to pair it with a higher-quality dongle DAC or a dedicated DAP for better performance.
During testing, when driven by the MOONDROP MoonRiver 2 Ti and TP35 Pro, the low frequencies tended to become slightly less controlled.
Frequency Response: Overall, the tuning follows a U-shaped signature. Compared to a typical V-shaped tuning that emphasizes excitement and impact, a U-shaped approach aims for a more balanced and cohesive sound presentation.
Sub-bass:
The sub-bass features a fairly high level of gain, delivering a strong sense of atmosphere and rumble that is immediately noticeable.
Mid-bass:
The mid-bass transitions downward smoothly, resulting in a clean and well-defined sound. There is no sense of bloom, boominess, or muddiness, keeping bass hits tight and controlled.
Midrange:
Vocals are positioned slightly laid-back rather than forward or intimate. Due to the tuning valley occurring earlier around 700 Hz (instead of the more common ~900 Hz seen in typical V-shaped tunings), the midrange rise also begins earlier, which contributes to a fuller and juicy vocal.
Upper mids/lower treble:
After 1 kHz, the response rises noticeably and forms a main peak around 2 kHz, helping to define note edges and improve image clarity. Combined with the elevated sub-bass, this tuning creates a very strong sense of front-to-back stage depth. Vocals feel positioned clearly in front of the listener, as if the singer is performing directly ahead, which also results in highly accurate instrument imaging. There is a noticeable peak around 8–9 kHz, followed by a rapid roll-off. This can introduce a slight amount of sibilance, though it remains well controlled and never becomes harsh.
Upper treble/Air: The response rolls off clearly around 10–12 kHz, preventing the treble from sounding overly airy or fatiguing. At the same time, there is a secondary lift around 15 kHz, which helps expand the perceived soundstage height—giving a sense of “ceiling” extension. Overall, the upper treble tuning supports extension and openness without overly emphasizing brilliance or sparkle.
Subjective Listening Impressions
Source: Mainly tested with the HiBy R8, with the iBasso DC04U used as a secondary source.
Personal sound preference: I personally prefer a full-bodied, neutral-to-slightly-warm tuning that does not sound dark—similar to the house sound of Audeze (before the Sony acquisition) and Focal. I am also relatively sensitive to sibilance.
Bass
The bass is undoubtedly one of Hermit’s strongest highlights. Bass quantity is slightly elevated, with exceptionally deep sub-bass extension. It is easily one of the most impactful yet most resolving low-end presentations I have heard. At the same time, the bass shows excellent elasticity and extremely clean decay, which prevents it from bleeding into the midrange—something that genuinely surprised me. I previously owned the Campfire Andromeda Emerald Sea and FitEar MH335DWSR. While both IEMs offer good overall resolution, their relatively heavy bass presence tends to encroach upon the midrange, which can be somewhat unfortunate. Hermit, however, does not suffer from this issue at all.
Midrange
The midrange is another major strength of the Hermit. It delivers a well-judged sense of thickness, with vocals positioned at a very natural distance—not forward or “in-your-face,” yet accompanied by a strong sense of stage depth. This midrange presentation reminds me of the Audeze LCD-3 and LCD-4: rich, full, and natural, without sounding dark or veiled. The overall listening experience is extremely comfortable and musical.
Treble
Hermit’s treble is not tuned to be overtly prominent, but this does not indicate a lack of resolution. On the contrary, its high resolving capability is precisely what allows the treble to remain free of sharpness or grain. The treble adds an appropriate amount of airy to the music while maintaining excellent control, resulting in a presentation that is smooth, refined, and coherent. At the same time, it contributes to a large and open sense of space, allowing notes to resonate naturally within the soundstage. Thanks to this tuning approach, the Hermit produces very little harshness or fatigue, making it extremely suitable for long listening sessions—especially for music that demands precision and delicate detail rendering.
Soundstage
So far, the Hermit offers one of the widest soundstages I have experienced among in-ear monitors. In my opinion, this expansive stage construction is closely related to its slightly elevated bass quantity. The low-frequency foundation supports the midrange and upper mids, forming a vast soundstage with high sound density. With certain tracks, the stage expands naturally, creating a strong sense of immersion. Some notes are projected forward at just the right moments—close enough to feel engaging, yet never intrusive. This type of soundstage presentation is something I have rarely encountered in other IEMs. Overall Listening Impression The Hermit follows a U-shaped tuning with powerful and deeply extended bass, a thick and natural midrange, and well-judged treble that never feels excessive. The soundstage is exceptionally large with very high sound density, while its sense of layering stands out clearly among competitors in the same price range.
Final Thoughts After completing my home headphone system, I began searching for a portable setup and spent a considerable amount of time auditioning flagship IEMs from various brands. Many of them were undoubtedly excellent. However, as tuning philosophies among major manufacturers have gradually converged, I started to experience a sense of listening fatigue—it became increasingly difficult to find a truly satisfying balance that felt emotionally engaging. That was until I encountered the Hermit. With the Hermit, I felt as if I had finally found a sense of direction. In fact, every time I return to other IEMs after listening to it, I can’t help but feel that something is missing. While many flagship IEMs today offer similarly high technical performance, the Hermit distinguishes itself through its rich and full midrange character.
Each frequency band performs its role clearly and independently: the treble remains smooth and non-fatiguing, while the bass—although generous in quantity—never becomes muddy or intrusive. As a result, I often find myself wearing the Hermit for long periods without realizing how much time has passed.
Additional Notes: Feel free to visit AüR Audio’s official website to learn more about the brand and its other products:
The brand owner or representative (I’m not entirely sure which) speaks Chinese and is very easy to communicate with. If you’re interested in exchanging impressions or trying the Hermit yourself, you are also welcome to reach out to me for an audition.
A small fun observation: when adjusting volume, I usually rely on vocal placement and image positioning to determine the appropriate listening level. Because of this, when I first received the Hermit and used my usual volume-setting method, it initially felt like an IEM with overwhelming bass impact—almost “too much.” Later on, I realized that simply lowering the volume slightly—positioning the vocal image roughly two to three steps in front of me—results in a perfectly balanced and highly immersive presentation.
