Reviewed by iwatobi(Head-Fier)
Introduction
If you’re on the hunt for a great pair of in-ear monitors that won’t break the bank, the Agasound AGA ONE is worth a look at just $39. With its sleek design and solid build, this budget-friendly IEM promises an enjoyable listening experience for both casual listeners and audiophiles alike. In this review, we’ll explore its sound quality, comfort, and overall value to see if it lives up to the hype. Whether you’re a music enthusiast or just starting out, the AGA ONE could be a fantastic addition to your audio setup.
Pros:
• Tight and Satisfying Bass Performance
• Good Vocal Performance and Clarity
• Excellent Imaging and Wide Soundstage
• Premium Build Quality
• Comfortable Fit
• Balanced Tuning
Cons:
• Not For Bass-Heads
• Long Nozzles May Affect Fit
Package Contents
AgaOne Ear Buds
Silver-Plated OFC Cable
Three Pairs of Wide Bore Ear Tips [S, M, L]
Three Pairs of Narrow Bore Ear Tips [S, M, L]
Three Pairs of Silicone Sponge Ear Tips [S, M, L]
Specifications
Brand: Agasound
Model: AGA ONE
Source: China
Colour: Silver
Sensitivity: 126dB
Impedance: 19 Ω 10% @1kHz
Frequency Response: 20-20kHz
Plug: 3.5 mm gold-plated plug
Driver: Balanced dual magnetic DD
Cable: High-purity silver-plated OFC
Build & Design
The AgaOne has a nice 5-axis CNC cut metallic shell with a fine sand blasting oxidation process. It does not give a cheap vibe, rather a good and near premium like vibe in such a price. Moreover, it is lightweight and looks absolutely stunning.
Cable
It is a lightweight high-purity silver-plated OFC cable. It feels quite premium to the touch and seems like it won’t break off easily and can definitely take a beating even though it is a bit slim.
Fit & Comfort
The AgaOne is comfortable to use for prolonged periods due to its lightweight build. It fits okay in the ear canals, but its nozzles are a bit long, which might not give listeners with shorter ear canals a good isolated and deep inserted seal. Nonetheless, its sealing is good if it's plugged in properly.
Tip Rolling
The stock tips are okay, but I’d recommend tip-rolling to get the best experience out of it. From my small collection of ear tips, I found the DUNU Candy and Final Audio Type E Pink tips.
Testing Gears
Cayin N3 Ultra
iBasso DX180
Xduoo X2s
Celest CD-20
Hidizs S8 Pro Robin
Realme C21y 3.5 mm
Lenovo IdeaPad 3.5 mm
Sound
The most awaited section of the review!
Bass
The bass is clean, smooth, and has good presence, which makes the sound engaging, and does not overwhelm.
Sub-Bass
The sub-bass has good rumble and extension. It is not boomy, nor overwhelming. It is just right. Furthermore, it will not satisfy the bass heads out there, but it definitely is enough for others. Sub-bass has good presence, but lacks a long-lasting effect. Moreover, it has a nice reverb effect on tracks that needs it.
Mid-Bass
The mid-bass is punchy, tight, hard-hitting, and engaging. It doesn’t overwhelm the other frequencies, and provides an enjoyable, balanced yet punchy bass. Moreover, the mid-bass isn’t too hard-hitting where its slams would feel sharp. It has a thick, and weighted slams.
Mid-Range
The mid-range is smooth, soothing, balanced, and pleasant to listen. Instruments are a bit forward, but it does not fully overwhelm the vocals.
Male Vocals
Male vocals are natural, rich, lively, and engaging. Somehow, this budget IEM is able to produce the singers’ vocal nuances well-enough. You can perfectly understand how much strain or relaxation they are putting on their vocal cords. Moreover, the vocals are engaging, smooth, and relaxing. There are no peaks nor sibilance in it.
Female Vocals
Female vocals have great clarity, warmth, is a bit forward, sounds natural, enriched and engaging. It even has intimate emotional response, which really makes female vocals. The Aga One is able to produce even the shouty songs in a non-sharp and fatiguing way. Moreover, the nuances and subtlety of the vocals are captured and produces relatively well, which is shocking considering the price.
Treble
The treble section is well done. It is not sharp, rather balanced, smooth and detailed. Moreover, it sounds crisp and engaging. The cymbals and hi-hats are crisp and has a lasting effect. The attack time, and the decay time, is long, which is actually a good thing as it keeps the treble enjoyable and non-fatiguing.
A treble sensitive listener won’t have any problems listening to the AgaOne as I am a listener who is treble sensitive.
Instruments
Instruments are clean, clear, smooth and a bit forward. The AgaOne instruments section is outstanding. It keeps the instrument lively and engagingly loud, but it doesn’t make them sound harsh to the ears.
Soundstage & Imaging
The AgaOne has good soundstage considering the price. It has good depth, wideness, and height. It does not provide an out-of-head experience, but provides a good enough sense of space, which is plenty for such a budget gear.
Imaging is incredibly well done in this price point. I can actually pinpoint instruments position accurately, which is surprising. It has nice depth and distance, which makes a good 3D experience for the instruments and vocals. It has a bit of surround sound effect as well, which lets the listener hear the instruments coming from not only the left and right sides, but all sides.
Technicalities
The AgaOne picks up the micro and macro details decently. You can pick up the nuances of individual instruments and the texture of vocals.
Conclusion
The Agasound AgaOne is a solid choice for anyone looking for budget-friendly in-ear monitors at $39. While it might not satisfy those who prefer heavy bass, it offers a balanced sound with clear vocals and decent imaging. The build quality feels sturdy, which adds to its overall appeal. For everyday listening, the AGA ONE does a good job and provides good value for the price. If you’re in the market for a reliable pair of IEMs that can handle a variety of music without breaking the bank, the AgaOne is definitely worth considering.