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Audiofly AF140 MK 2: The Sunburst Cherry Bomb – An In-Ear Monitor Review

DISCLAIMER: Audiofly loaned me the AF140 MK2 in return for my honest opinion. I will send the unit back following the review. I am not personally affiliated with the company in any way, nor do I receive any monetary rewards for a positive evaluation. I’d like to Audiofly for their kindness and support. The review is as follows.

Audiofly are a company from Western Australia, who make universal and custom in-ear monitors. They’re one of the few brands conceived during the original IEM boom of the 2010’s who’ve successfully transitioned to the modern era through sheer consistency and innovation. They continue to be staples among professionals in Australia, and their product series haven’t grown stagnant either. Tuning refreshes continue to reinvigorate their AF universal monitors. And, today, we’ll be taking a look at the latest from their hybrid line of IEMs. Audiofly’s AF140 MK2 sports two balanced-armature drivers and one diaphragm for one of the best bass-focused in-ears – and one of the best valued in-ears, period – that I’ve heard yet.

Audiofly AF140 MK2

  • Driver count: Two balanced-armature drivers and one dynamic driver
  • Impedance: 17Ω @1kHz
  • Sensitivity: 100dB @1kHz
  • Key feature(s) (if any): N/A
  • Available form factor(s): Universal acrylic in-ear monitors
  • Price: $249.99 (available on Reverb.com)
  • Website: www.audiofly.com

Packaging and Accessories

Audiofly’s packaging for the AF140 MK2 is commercial done right. Instead of adopting the jewellery-store-like, prestigious look that’s become commonplace in the industry – often adorned with nothing but the company logo – they’ve opted for something more mainstream that focuses on communication: Monitors front-and-centre with the product and company names flanking, and everything you need to know on the back. I personally love how Audiofly have gone about branding these IEMs, because of both how well it fits their target audience of more casual listeners, and is clean and sleek enough to catch even the eyes of veterans. This is a superb effort from their marketing team; tight, efficient and modern at once.

Under the lid, you’re welcomed by the in-ears embedded within some nicely dense foam. It has even been cut to exactly fit the AF140 MK2, which is a great detail. Then, below that is the included case, as well as a multilingual quick-start guide with this product’s warranty information. This case is a square, clamshell, zipper case in black, and it’s been finished with Audiofly’s logo on top; a nice touch. The interior of the case has a velvety feel to it, which should provide a slight cushion. And, it also has an internal pocket for ear tips or other accessories. My only two gripes with the case would be the lack of a carabiner for hooking around belt hoops, for example, and this zipper being rather rigid; not the smoothest to open or close. Otherwise, though, it’s a really well-made accessory, and one that further boosts the product’s already-great value.

You’ll find the rest of the accessories inside the case, which consist of 9 pairs of ear tips (including the pair already on the in-ears), a shirt clip, an airline adapter, a 1/4″ adapter and a cleaning tool. The 9 sets in question are comprised of single-flange silicone tips, triple-flange silicone tips and COMPLY T-100 foam tips, each in 3 different sizes. Personally, I think it’s a really comprehensive accessories pack with no notable exclusions. I’d typically mention a cleaning cloth here like in my custom in-ear reviews. But, the AF140 MK2 isn’t particularly lacquered like most CIEMs are, so its absence is not an issue.

Finally, we have the AF140 MK2’s AudioFlex cable. It is impressively smooth, light and yet supple, and it’s definitely one of the best I’ve come across at this price tier. This smoothness mostly comes from the CORDURA fibre jacket that runs from the Y-split to the 1/8″ connector. It adds a really premium feel to the cable, and it’s what makes this cable a winner in my book. The 2-wire twists from the Y-split to the MMCX connectors don’t have this jacket, but they’re still very ergonomic as well. There’s no springiness or bounciness to it at all, and memory is nearly non-existent too; just the odd bend here and there that doesn’t affect the cable’s use at all. The ear hooks are soft and manageable, with L and R on the connectors to denote the left and right sides. The latter even has R written in Braille, which is a really considerate touch. And, lastly, the Y-split and 3.5mm plug are substantial, yet light as well, adorned with the Audiofly logo to complete the cable’s aesthetic.

Ergonomics and Build

Something you’ll immediately notice about the AF140 MK2 is that they’re really, really small. They are the most compact multi-driver UIEM I’ve personally ever used, and they’re really light as well. This – alongside the classic, Shure-style shape – is the reason for their incredible comfort in the ear. Of all the universals I’ve worn, these are the ones that disappear in my ears the most, and I can certainly see myself wearing these for hours – stationary or on-the-go – without any fatigue.

And, don’t let their minuscule size fool you. The AF140 MK2 is a solidly-built monitor as well. The plastic body feels fairly robust and thick given the size. And, the finish overall is really, really clean. I love the contrast of colour and texture here between the glossy, gunmetal outer with black logos against the matte-black inner with silvery logos. The joints between the two are seamless too. In addition to the standard L and R, the silver art on the inner side of the in-ears even features text, such as the model name and Designed in Australia. Aside from being a great aesthetic touch, I think it also shows off Audiofly’s incredible precision in the engraving of these graphics. My only hope is that they won’t slowly rub off with use.

Moving to the nozzles, the AF140 MK2’s are fairly thin, but they’re solid as well. Again, the COMPLY size would be T-100’s. I do have one gripe here, and it’s that it’s missing a small notch to keep tips in place. Although they are long and textured enough to prevent tips from ever sliding off in my experience, it would be nice to have just a slight bump at the very end of the nozzle for security’s sake. As far as connections go, these are terminated in the standard MMCX format. So, you’re free to swap the Audioflex cable out for an aftermarket one, if you want. The connectors themselves are very robust and secure, and, with the IEMs being so tiny, they can be tough to unplug. But, that aside, the AF140 MK2 is really solidly built all around: Sleekly conceived, vanishingly comfortable, incredibly light and compact, and yet reliably rugged all the same.

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ABOUT AUTHOR

Deezel

Deezel

Church-boy by day and audio-obsessee by night, Daniel Lesmana’s world revolves around the rhythms and melodies we lovingly call: Music. When he’s not behind a console mixing live for a congregation of thousands, engineering records in a studio environment, or making noise behind a drum set, you’ll find him on his laptop analysing audio gear with fervor and glee. Now a specialist in custom IEMs, cables and full-sized headphones, he’s looking to bring his unique sensibilities - as both an enthusiast and a professional - into the reviewer’s space; a place where no man has gone before.

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