For some time, it seems like the same names come up in the audiophile world—Sennheiser, Hifiman, Audeze, Meze, Final Audio—to name a few. However, it’s a breath of fresh air when a smaller, outside company can make a splash with a brand new headphone. That’s just what Auribus did five years ago with the Auribus Acoustics Sierra Reference, and, in my opinion, they’ve done it again with the newly released Sierra Aluminum.
What Comes In The Box?
- Padded Carry Case
- 1.4 Meter Dual 3.5mm Cable With ½ Inch Adapter
- Stereo Wired Headphones
- Dekoni Elite Hybrid Leather/Velour Pads (Installed)
The included accessories with the Aluminum are worthy of its price tag. The carrying case provides added mobility and saves you from having to get one from a third party. Likewise, its included braided cable is very nice and I didn’t find myself needing to get an improved version to get a better sound.
Build, Design & Comfort
The Sierra Aluminum has a near identical design to the Sierra Reference, which I have no problem with. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The reference is a great feeling and looking headphone.I had no issues with comfort even after hours of wear thanks to the Aluminum being incredibly light weight and nicely padded. They have a great pattern design on the side that, combined with the black and silver color scheme, reminds me of the HD600 series in a great way.
The materials from the Reference are a definite upgrade, keeping the 3D printed plastic but adding more metal to the mix. But does the sound live up the materials and build quality?
Technical Specifications
- Driver type: Dynamic (Peerless™ paper cone)
- Driver size: 50 mm
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Impedance: 20 Ω @ 1 kHz
- Acoustic design: Open-back
Sound Review
While the Auribus Aluminum can be difficult to drive, I found that, after pairing them with a Mojo 2, they sound great. I wouldn’t recommend them to someone who isn’t also looking to get into the DAC/AMP world, but if you’re already knee-deep in the audiophile space, this may be a great addition to your collection.
Soundstage
The Aluminum’s sound stage hits a middle unique to the open-back headphone space. It has an intimate core; the performers sound close-up when listening. However, there is still a tremendous amount of breathing room left within the overall scope of the sound. It strikes a great goldilocks zone of staying close, giving the sound a unique character and allowing appreciation of the details while staying far away enough to not let everything get cluttered. It’s a middle ground that I rarely see headphones go for, much less succeed in achieving.
Frequency Breakdown
Bass Frequencies
The Bass is definitely noteworthy on the Aluminiums. It’s very present and punchy when a track emphasizes it, but it’s not overdriven by any means. However, I wouldn’t call it reference-oriented either. In general, I would say the Aluminium is not a very reference-conscious headphone (hence the name when compared to its predecessor). It’s definitely a colorful headphone, and I found myself hearing tracks that I’ve heard a hundred times with a whole new sound. There’s definitely a wow factor here, and not in a bad way.
Mid-Range Frequencies
The mids are nice and detailed here. As mentioned before, the Aluminum has an intimate, but open, sound. This especially helps in cranking in the detail in the mids. A well-layered track sounds amazing on the Aluminum, and you can effortlessly parse through the details and let your ears guide you through tracks. The Aluminum also has tremendous range here, lending great sounds to both laid-back and chaotic tracks.
High/Treble Frequencies
While some headphones with great bass struggle with treble, that is not the case here. The highs are just as detailed as the lows, also feeling colored a great deal. The crispness is just exceptional. They make a listening experience that much more exciting. The unique character of the Aluminum’s sound is its greatest draw for me.
Comparison to Other Headphones
At $1600, the Aluminum sits at a luxury price point and $400 above Auribus’s own Reference headphone. I plan on doing a direct comparison between the Reference and the Aluminum in the future, so I’ll save that argument for another time.
In terms of competitors at this price point, I would say that the Aluminum holds its own simply for its uniqueness. Even for a long-term audiophile, there’s something new offered with the Aluminum that can only be experienced by trying one out. It’s not for everyone, especially those hunting a reference sound, but it is definitely something that will be appreciated.
Final Thoughts
The Auribus Acoustics Sierra Aluminum offers a unique, full, colored sound that gives a great “wow” factor that will impress many. From its textured bass, to its highly detailed mids, although up to its crisp highs, the Aluminum is a top performer. Its soundstage is also unique, with its intimate but open character offering further details that often fall into the background in an open back. I would recommend it to both audiophiles who already have a few headphones and want something new to impress them, and to newcomers who want a unique first-headphone in the luxury space.
You can buy the Auribus Acoustics Sierra Aluminium at Audio 46.
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