AuR Audio Alicante Review: The Summit-Fi Hunter

AuR Audio Alicante Review: The Summit-Fi Hunter

AuR Audio is one of those brands that I’ve been watching for quite some time – and also waiting to introduce to About Audio for quite some time now. Co-founded by Nicholas Teo and Abel Tsu, AüR is a boutique brand from Singapore that has been crafting in-ear monitors and custom cables since 2021. AüR has been making lots of noise among global audiophile communities since then, and now we have the pleasure of introducing an AüR product. Today, we’re reviewing AüR Audio’s latest creation – the Alicante.

Now being offered as a combo package deal with the Xerxes upgrade cable, the Alicante is a 12-driver IEM featuring a 2DD+8BA+1PZT+1MST quadbrid setup. Just by the spec sheet, these IEMs are signaling that they aren’t any typical IEMs. Let’s go into details on what Alicante features, how it sounds, and how it competes against its bigger brand competitors. AüR Alicante is available for $1,200 (1,600 SGD) including the AüR Xerxes upgrade cable.  

About AuR Audio

Before we move on to the main dish, an extra briefing about AüR Audio would be worth knowing. If you’ve been getting your major audio news through online sponsors and exhibitions, there’s a chance you may not have heard of them – or not be fully aware of their offerings.     

They are not exactly a brand that releases a new IEM every few months to keep the lineup moving, or does a lot of marketing across online platforms, nor do they show up at global exhibitions as often as bigger brands. Nicholas, from AüR Audio, states that as a boutique brand, AüR Audio’s mission is to create flagship or summit-fi-level IEMs at a more accessible price. While this means less public impression due to limiting marketing costs, they instead went for investing in and improving the product value, bringing the qualities up and the price as competitive as possible. 

The “Flagship Sniper” by the AüR Team: Alicante (Product link)

Alicante is one of the latest results of that progression that is meant to bring the most cost-efficient flagship IEM made by AüR Audio – something that’s meant to take down the summit-fi giants at a substantially lower price. Packing twelve drivers and four different driver technologies into a five-way crossover system, AüR describes Alicante as a product that collects the experience gained from its previous creations into one design.

What’s Inside / Xerxes Flagship Cable

AüR keeps the Alicante package short and practical. Inside the compact black box are a premium leather case, which includes the accessories and the earphones. Other than the earpieces, the box includes a premium leather carrying case, three pairs of Acoustune AET07 eartips, and a 4.4mm cable. The case is adequately sized to house thicker custom cables and preventing the IEMs from rattling around. 

The Alicante is priced at ~$999 (1,199SGD), and the Xerxes cable is priced at ~$1,009 (1,290SGD). There have been some updates and changes for the stock cable option, and AüR Audio has now renewed it as a combo deal where you can get both the Alicante and Xerxes for ~$1,200 (1,600 SGD). Xerxes is a flagship pure-copper cable, which we’ll soon be releasing a separate review soon (stay tuned!)   

Inside the packaging includes: 

• Alicante Universal In-Ear Monitors
• Premium Leather Case
• Acoustune AET07 Eartips (S,M,L)
• 4.4mm IEM Cable
• 6 / 12 months warranty

12-Driver Quadbrid Earpieces

Alicante is a 12-driver, 5-way IEM using a 2DD+8BA+1PZT+1MST quadbrid setup. Not only such a complicated driver combo being rare to find, but also the types of drivers Alicante uses are not your daily encounter. Lows are handled by two 8mm PU+LCP Patented dynamic drivers, four array of custom BAs for mids, another four array of custom BAs for highs, a large 12mm custom piezoelectric bone conduction driver for detail/stage enrichment, and a 7mm custom magnetostatic supertweeter for the ultra highs.

Specifications of AüR Alicante:

Design / Ergonomics

The earpieces are made of 3D black resin with tangerine faceplates with holographic patterns etched inside. The color subtly shifts between yellow and orange, and it’s a pleasing design that’s something fresh and new that I haven’t seen from other brands until now. The earpieces are light and compact despite the number of drivers. Fitting and wearing is also very comfortable, with an ergonomic inner shape that’ll suit most ears without an issue. Talk the talk, let’s now see how Alicante sounds and performs.   

Next Page: In-depth Sound Impressions / How does Alicante Sound & Perform?