SR7000 Full-Size Closed-Back Headphones with MLD Driver, Dynamic Driver, Detachable Cable, Over-Ear HiFi Hi-Res Audiophile Headphones for HiFi System, Home Audio, DAP

To state my opinion in a sentence, these headphones are incredible and I highly recommend them. I feel they deserve the highest praise possible and I'm writing this review in the hopes it brings this product even marginally greater future success. I had gotten the Aune AR5000s after seeing and reading all the positive reviews, and I really enjoyed those pairs for acoustic music, classic rock, and many other applications. They had a very unique sound to them that really brought life and joy to certain types of music, but I found the tonality slightly skewed in a direction that made me feel like I needed EQ to enjoy them with the full variety of music that I listen to. I would agree with AudioScienceReview in that they are an excellent value with the caveat that they kind of require EQ manipulation to get the most enjoyment out of them in a broad context, and also with Zeos Reviews that they have a special superpower of sounding highly dynamic at very low volumes which I appreciated to help save my hearing. I would definitely recommend the ARs as well, but not as the sole pair of headphones for a listener of a wide variety of music, I considered them almost a "specialty" pair of headphones that I would apply to certain music to give them a boost of airy beauty. As a result of my positive experience with the AR5000s and the Aune Yuki, I decided to splurge and buy these SR7000s even though there aren't any reviews and people on Reddit were joking about the marketing jargon. I am nothing but glad that I decided to pull the trigger on these, as instantly I was greeted with a sound and presentation that completely impressed me and has never let up over my extended listening sessions with them over the course of this past week. Aune has grandly succeeded in developing a pair of closed-back headphones that do not exhibit the drawbacks of the format and instead flaunt their strengths. I grew up using only closed back headphones, and I remember the revelation of how much better open backs could sound getting my first pair of Sennheisers and listening to Subterranean Homesick Alien by Radiohead as a teenager and being completely mezmerized by the sense of space and detail. I never looked back and bought exclusively open backs from that point, eventually moving into open back planars with the Edition XS being my last set of daily drivers. I am admittedly not a user of extremely expensive Hi-Fi audio equipment, I've only heard headphones and IEMs in the sub $1000 range. While initially highly impressed by the different sense of dynamics, speed, and breadth of bass and treble extension from planars, I did feel a loss of musicality and substance when listening to non-electronic music specifically, feeling like I had to really crank the headphones to get the same sense of movement and emotion as from dynamic drivers. So I turned to the AR5000s as my solution and a contrast to my beloved planar pair, but the extreme openness of the XS had fatigued me regarding the super airy presentation where there is absolutely no sense of enclosure to the music like speakers are hanging in still air near your head and play almost equally as loud outward as inward. I decided it was time to try a pair of closed back headphones for the first time since childhood and see if the marketing was real that the SR7000s had included tech that could combine the sonic benefits of both open and close back headphones. I feel Aune completely delivered on their promises, and I can't imagine a more perfect pair of closed back headphones for me. It was exactly what I was looking for, regarding comfort, sound, and even looks. It completely fixed the tonality issues that I had with the AR5000s while keeping all of the sonic elements I loved from that pair. The company naming the ARs "Air Reference" and the SRs "Sea Reference" really sums up the sound difference, with these being thicker and more fluid sounding, but these don't sound like you are underwater like with most closed backs. They completely retain the sense of openness regarding soundstage and swirling air around notes, but more like from a refreshing warm sea breeze rather than cold crisp air. I now feel like I can use these headphones for all of my music from acoustic to electronica without any EQ at all. I'm sure bassheads would want to add a bass shelf, but I am satisfied with the increased bass presence from the closed back format and the thicker sounding tuning. And to me these headphones aren't about brain-breaking bass, to me they are about extracting maximum beauty and enjoyment from the music in a way that makes every song sound sweet, lush, and spacious, but also impactful and engaging in a way that provides me with the emotional experience I was missing from my planars. I read another reviewer state that Aune might as well stand for "All U NEed", and that is how I feel about these headphones, I love their stock sound and they have instantly become my daily drivers for music. When I shared these headphones with my family members, it only confirmed my experience that these headphones are truly special. The look on my 70 year old uncle's face as he listened to The Highwaymen on my phone powered by an iBasso DC07 Pro could only be described as "wowed", he just sat there fully engaged in the emotional experience of the music and it was apparent he was very moved by what he heard from his facial expressions. My piano playing aunt bopped her head, my mother smiled contently while listening to 80s classics, and my dad went fully into The Zone while listening to his favorite classic rock bands. It is completely clear that these headphones provide a very special experience to its users, and I am ecstatic that I get to share that experience with the people that I care about. For that I am very thankful to Aune for their tireless efforts in creating exemplary audio products at reasonable prices, taking the time to research and innovate in their production process, and their results speak for itself. I am proud and grateful to own these headphones, their sound has brought me to the verge of tears even after only a few days of ownership, and I love seeing the expression on my loved ones faces when they listen to their favorite songs through these beauties. I can't say enough good things about them, and I wanted to write this review in the hopes that other people get to experience them and that their creators are duly rewarded for their efforts. I think Aune has accomplished an amazing feat with the SR7000s design and sound, and I wish the company and its patrons all the best on their audio journeys.

After spending nine months with the Aune SR-7000, I wanted to rewrite my review of it (the original was an overcaffeinated mess of superlatives, you didn’t miss much). This headphone is special. As advertised, it’s a closed back with the soundstage of an open back—which is impressive at any price, especially at $600. There are only a tiny handful of other closed headphones that do this, and they’re all $1500+. The soundstage, instrument separation, and imaging is on par with or surpasses many competent open-backs. It feels wide, with moderate depth and height, like you’re in a small venue, not a concert hall or stadium. There’s no muddy reflections or weird resonance. Outside of the pressure seal of the cups, you forget you’re wearing a closed headphone. What also sets the SR-7000 apart is how relaxed it is. I mostly listen to loud, intense genres of music, which can be not just acoustically fatiguing but sort of anxiety-provoking after a while on other headphones. I switch to the SR-7000 is like plopping down in an easy chair after being on your feet for hours. It’s relaxing, no matter what genre of you’re listening to or for how long. It also softens recordings I’ve found to be harsh, like the whole Lateralus album by Tool. A lot of people love the stock tuning of the SR-7000, but make no mistake—it’s odd, although generally very well balanced. It has recessed upper mids, which contributes to its non-fatiguing character, but it’s also relaxed in the treble. Out of the box, I’d sometimes catch a hollow, plasticky timbre. Well I don’t believe in stock tuning — I EQ everything (and you should too), and very narrow, small elevation at 6400 and 6900 makes the SR-7000 livelier and fuller, but keeps the chillness. Some people say this headphone lacks bass. I’m a drum and bass DJ who has heard a lot of good (and very bad) bass and I can tell you, it's got great bass. It's well defined with just enough impact. You can boost sub and midbass until your eyeballs vibrate and they’ll still sound good. The sealed chamber of the cups also enhances rumble and tactility, making it especially great for movies and games. What critics of the bass are looking for is a bit more “slam,” and you can EQ bass for this— but the “just enough” impact is what keeps the SR-7000 relaxed and balanced. The SR-7000 is very comfortable and feels luxurious. The metal headband distributes weight so effectively that it barely feels like it’s on your head, and plastic housing makes it lighter overall. It has pillowy custom pads and lots of room in the ear cups because the driver is recessed. Clamp force is very light, just enough to keep it from sliding forward or backward. You can EQ for sound, but you can't fix comfort, so this is really important. I wish this headphone had gotten more attention, but its release was overshadowed by the release of the $150 Fiio FT-1 and Aune’s own $300 open back AR-5000 around the same time. So is the SR-7000 a good value? Well if you just want “a good closed back,” the FT-1 is a great value that sounds like it’s at least twice its asking price—but it’s overly punchy, sounds a bit closed in, can be harsh, and is unremarkable in imaging and resolution (it’s fun but its main innovation is… costing $150). And if you want a good value open back for under $600, there are several, so why are you even reading this. So for the SR-7000 to be a good value, you have to want it for what it is: a closed back that makes no compromises. Sounds like an expensive open back. Cosy and easy, handling jazz, pop, death metal, and jungle with equal grace. A gentleman, not a brawler. Check out the review by Gadgetry Tech, he’s got good takes on it. And definitely give these cans a shot, they’ll love you back.

It's a nice headphone with good merits but comparing it to the Sundara which I already have, I didn't find what it had to offer, at twice the price of the Sundara, to be worth buying it as an extra headphone. For reference, my setup is USB driven Topping D90 (AKM D/A) connected with XLR to the RNHP headphone amp. The SR 7000 has a different sound signature to the Sundara, more dynamic, and with more pronounced midrange and upper base, with seemingly more accurate tonal balance, but it lacked the 'airiness' and micro-resolution of the Sundara. The SR7000 is easier to drive than the Sundara so unless you have a headphone amp the SR7000 would be a better choice. On its own it's a good headphone but comparing it to the Sundara which I already own for a few years and in my setup (hifi chain synergy is always important), I didn't find what it brought to the table was worth double the Sundara's price. I decided to try the HE1000SE, and WOW! Granted it's not in the same price category being more than $1k extra but the HE1000SE was the upgrade i was hoping for, more resolving and more dynamic with wider frequency range than both. The SR7000 is closer to the HE1000SE in tonal balance than the Sundara, but the HE1000SE offers both dynamics and tonality and frequency range extension and resolution compared to the others, so much so that I don't feel like listening to either of them in my setup. I'm keeping the HE1000SE and returning the SR7000. Based on reviews the HE1000SE could be too bright/sibilant in some setups so it's better suited with an audio chain that's not overly bright, like mine.