Aune AR5000 MK2

All-Metal Headband Rebuild, Refined 50mm MLD Driver — The Aune’s AR5000 MK2

I have been following Aune for a while now — I reviewed the original AR5000 when it launched and came away genuinely impressed by its unusual circular earcup design and its angled earcups which helped give it a nice spacious sound. So when rumours of an MK2 surfaced, I was very interested in seeing what might have changed. Not to spoil the review, but there are 2 key changes, the headband frame and the sound profile. Both are worth understanding if you are in the market for a new headphone.

So, after two weeks of listening, with the original AR5000 sitting alongside the MK2 for comparisons. So as you will see, while these look very similar, they are also very different, both for the better but possibly worse depending on how you felt about the original.

But before I get into the details first, let’s take a look at what’s in the box.

Unboxing and Packaging

The AR5000 MK2 arrives in Aune’s clean, confident outer packaging.

The box opens to reveal the documentation and product information sitting on top:

Below that, the box contents are laid out practically — manual, cable, and adapter together:

The retail box opens to reveal the headphone in a velvet-lined interior — a nice premium touch, even if it is the same box rather than a separate carry case. I would have liked a dedicated carry case at $339, and its absence is a small but genuine gap in the package, though you can buy one separately from Aune for around $40:

Taking the headphone out of its retail box, you see effectively exactly the same design as the original:

Design, Build Quality, and the New Frame

The headline build change on the MK2 is the headband assembly. The original AR5000’s frame used metal-painted plastic — a construction choice that looked premium but, with some early units failed structurally over time, those early issues were addressed by Aune and none of the recent AR50000 models sold had that flaw, but Aune have decided to double down with the MK2 and designed a completely new frame. The new frame uses an all-metal assembly.

The improvement is tangible: the headband feels solid, and the adjustment mechanism moves with more authority:

Other than that both headphones look effectively identical:

Despite using real metal throughout the frame rather than metal-painted plastic, the MK2 comes in at essentially the same weight as the original. Aune clearly made internal adjustments to compensate — weighing both confirms this:

The circular earcup design remains the AR5000’s most visually distinctive feature. The MK2 keeps it intact — the large open grille on the exterior and the side vents that Aune uses to manage airflow behind the driver:

I do think this is a very nice design, and I am glad Aune stuck with it for the MK2:

Mostly the only difference is the branding on the grill:

The high-definition MLD driver grille and the earpad surface with the driver labelling give a sense of how close the driver sits to the ear — the geometry here is intentional and acoustically active:

The earpad close-up confirms the depth and material quality of the pads — these are the same comfortable earpads from the original, unchanged in the MK2, but you can see the new driver doesn’t dampening material covering the driver:

This will be important later as an easy way to tame the treble is to cover the driver with a very thin material.

The earcup swivel mechanism is well-engineered on both sides, allowing a good range of adjustment without play or wobble — a detail that contributes to fit quality:

Driver Technology

The AR5000 MK2 continues with Aune’s 50mm Multi-Layer Distributed (MLD) dynamic driver — a design that uses a diaphragm balancing rigidity and damping to reduce the breakup resonances that can affect large-diameter drivers.

For the MK2, Aune has updated the diaphragm material and surface treatment, targeting clearer high-frequency extension and a more natural sense of air. The driver diagram and close-up show the architecture:

The large-tilt-angle driver panel — the angled positioning of the 50mm driver within the circular earcup — is the acoustic signature element of the AR5000 design.

And combined with angled earpads, I feel that the earpad open design also gives the headphone a nice sense of spaciousness:

Cables and Accessories

The cable included with the MK2 is genuinely good quality — Aune has not cut corners here. The cable body is labelled with the Aune branding and the connectors are well-finished:

The full connector set and the variety of cable tips included give good flexibility for different source setups:

Fit and Comfort

Like the original, the AR5000 MK2 is extremely comfortable — the egg-shaped earcup with its angled driver and deep earpads creates excellent ear clearance and a contact seal that feels pressure-free. Everything that made the original AR5000 one of the more comfortable open-backs in this price range is preserved in the MK2.

The one difference you notice with the new metal frame has a marginally firmer clamping force. It is not uncomfortable, but the more rigid structure translates to a slightly more present grip on the head compared to the original’s slightly looser, more casual feel. For most listeners this will be imperceptible; for those who wore the original on the very edge of a comfortable fit, it is worth knowing.

Sound Impressions

All impressions were formed using the JDS Labs Element IV and Topping DX5 II as primary sources, with the original AR5000 directly alongside for quick comparisons.

Bass

The bass is the most audible change from the original. The MK2 has more mid-bass weight — a warmer, fuller low-end presentation that sits closer to the character you would expect from a ZMF or warmer Meze headphone than the leaner, more linear bass of the original AR5000.

On “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode, the bass line has real body and authority, and the overall low-end is satisfying and enjoyable. The trade-off is that this mid-bass warmth adds a slight congestion to busy low-end passages that the original’s leaner tuning avoided. If you came to the AR5000 specifically for a tighter, more precise low end, the MK2 is a different proposition. If you simply want good bass with real weight, it delivers.

Midrange

The midrange retains the AR5000’s fundamental character — open, spacious, and well-proportioned — with a deliberate recession in the 1–2kHz region that Aune uses to enhance the perceived soundstage width and prevent the forward, in-your-face midrange presentation of more neutral headphones. On “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman, the vocal sits naturally within the mix with good body and presence, the guitar carrying a slightly warm colouration that suits the tuning. The midrange is still one of this headphone’s genuine strengths — the angled driver architecture gives instruments a convincing sense of placement and space that purely frontal driver designs do not achieve in the same way.

Treble

The treble is where the MK2 makes its clearest improvement over the original. Aune’s diaphragm material and surface treatment and lack of dampening have produced a high-frequency presentation that is more extended and more interesting than the original — there is more air and micro-detail retrieval, and individual instrument textures come through with greater clarity.

On “Tamacun” by Rodrigo y Gabriela, the string harmonics and picking detail have a presence and precision that the original AR5000 could not quite match at the top of its range. Crucially, this improved extension is achieved without adding sibilance or harshness — the treble at, least for me, is still engaging but not aggressive. But like most dynamic driver headphones, adding a little thin layer of tissue or other light material can be used to bring down the treble without needing to EQ.

Soundstage and Imaging

The soundstage is one of the AR5000 MK2’s consistent strengths, and it remains excellent. Possible the combination of the large-tilt-angle driver, the open earpads and the subtle FR tweaks in the 1-2Khz region help produces a notably wide and open sense of space — wider than most conventional open-backs in this price range.

On “Hotel California” by the Eagles, the guitar intro spreads convincingly left and right, the percussion sits at a natural depth behind the guitars, and the vocal anchors the centre with real stability. Imaging is precise and, if anything, slightly better than the original — the treble improvements translate into cleaner instrument separation within that wide stage.

Specifications

Comparisons and Measurements

Channel matching on the MK2 is excellent — left and right track closely across the full frequency range:

The most direct comparison is with the original AR5000.

While it doesn’t look obvious in the measurements above, the fact that the presence region is slightly lower effectively means the bass and treble regions are slightly more forward in nature. This means at least for me that the MK2 has more mid-bass and more treble extension, while the original has a more filled-in midrange. The original’s leaner bass will appeal to listeners who prefer a more neutral low end; the MK2’s warmer character suits those who prefer the body and weight that brands like ZMF and Meze build their reputations on. The raw overlays and the KB501X target comparison both make the tuning shift measurably visible:

Here are a bunch of raw measurements:

Against the Hifiman Sundara and the new Hifiman HE600, the AR5000 MK2 is the warmer, more relaxed-sounding headphone than both.

The Sundara and the HE600 have a leaner, more tonally neutral bass character with somewhat better midrange linearity; the MK2 is warmer and goes for a wider soundstage:

Just comparing against the HE600, you can see that the MK2 is much warmer though the HE600 has better midrange and both have similar treble:

Against, the Sennheiser HD490 Pro is one of the few headphones in this price range with a frequency response that lands closest to the AR5000 MK2’s character especially when using the ‘Producer’ pads:

Both headphones share a warm, spacious presentation with a similar approach to mid-bass and treble. The 490 Pro does come with 2 different earpads and arguably has better midrange but is also more expensive:

Against the legendary Sennheiser HD600 the MK2’s warmer character becomes most visible. The HD600’s famously accurate midrange and relaxed treble make a useful contrast against the AR5000 MK2’s wider staging and fuller low end:

Against the Hifiman HE600, the gap between the two is clear — the HE600’s more linear planar bass and energetic treble sit at the opposite end of the spectrum from the MK2’s warmer dynamic driver character:

The full Hifiman new-model group alongside the MK2 gives useful context for how the AR5000 MK2 sits relative to Hifiman’s new mid-fi lineup — warmer than any of them, with a fundamentally different acoustic approach:

Against the Hedd Audio HEDDphone D1 — a warmer, midrange-focused dynamic driver headphone at a higher price — the AR5000 MK2 is genuinely competitive in warmth and staging width, though the D1’s midrange clarity is exceptional and difficult to match at $339. The measurements confirm this: the D1’s bass is actually slightly less elevated than the MK2’s, while its upper midrange is considerably more linear. The D1 is the warmer headphone in character but the more neutral one in the midrange — a useful distinction to understand where each sits:

The Meze 105 AER is the other warm, open-back in this general conversation. Both headphones share a preference for body and warmth over strict neutrality — the AR5000 MK2 wins on soundstage geometry ( the tilt-angle driver is genuinely distinctive) and the 105 AER has a treble that I know some people do not like.

The measurements show how closely the two headphones are playing the same game — both have elevated mid-bass, but that upper midrange, lower treble on the 105 AER is what does annoy some listeners while others really appreciate it:

A broader group shot showing the AR5000 MK2 in the company of several of these comparison headphones:

Distortion performance is clean and well-controlled across the frequency range — the MLD driver delivers low distortion figures appropriate for a headphone at this price:

Rating Explanation

The Pragmatic Rating of 5 reflects a headphone that improves on the original in the two areas that mattered most: build quality and treble performance. The all-metal frame eliminates the one genuine concern with the original AR5000, and the updated driver delivers noticeably better high-frequency extension and detail. Personally, I prefer the MK2’s warmer, fuller tuning — the added mid-bass body gives music a satisfying weight that the original’s leaner presentation lacked. That said, I do imagine some listeners who loved the original’s more neutral low end will find the MK2’s warmer character less to their taste. But taken on its own merits, the MK2 is a better-built, better-sounding headphone than the original that earned a 5, and it deserves the same rating.

The Price Rating of 5 is clear: at $339 with a full all-metal frame, quality cables, and the AR5000’s distinctive spacious design, this is still a strong package. The Features Rating of 5 reflects the cable quality and interchangeable plug system — both genuinely good at the price. The one gap is possible the absence of a separate carry case; the velvet-lined retail box is a nice presentation touch, but it is not the same thing, and rivals in this price bracket often include one.

The Measurements Rating of 4 is honest. The MK2 is a competent measurement result — clean distortion, good channel matching — but the mid-bass elevation is more than the marketing language of “natural, balanced, and vibrant tonality” fully acknowledges. The treble improvements are measurably real and welcome; the bass change is a deliberate tuning decision that will land differently depending on your preferences. It is not a problem with the headphone, but it is a choice worth knowing about before purchasing.

Conclusion

The Aune AR5000 MK2 is the AR5000 that Aune probably should have shipped the first time — with a more rigid frame. That improvement alone makes the MK2 the version to buy if you are new to the AR5000 family. The bass is slightly warmer, the treble is better, and the sound is still as spacious and interesting as it was with the original.

The question is whether the updated tuning is what you wanted. If you liked the original AR5000’s leaner, more neutral low end, you will miss it here. If you have been curious about the AR5000’s unusual soundstage geometry but wanted more body and warmth in the low end, the MK2 is the version for you. It sits comfortably alongside warmer-leaning open-backs like the Sennheiser HD490 Pro (with the Producer pads) and even against the HEDD D1 in that character, which is good company at any price, let alone $339.