Наушники — BASN Audio ASONE

The ASONE is a wired in-ear monitor with a single planar magnetic driver from BASN Audio, the earphone company that audiophile Louis Lee founded in 2009. In the BASN catalogue it forms the planar group together with the MTPro, while the brand's other series rely on dynamic and balanced armature drivers. BASN aims the ASONE at musicians such as drummers, bass players and singers as well as home listeners, and sells it in silver, blue, black, white, crystal, grey and pink. The standard version is listed at USD 139.99, and a version with both 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm terminations at USD 129.99.

Key specs that matter

Inside every shell is one 14.2 mm planar diaphragm unit. The film is 2 microns thick and sits in a double-sided array of 14 N52 magnets. Sensitivity is 100 dB and the frequency response spans 20 Hz to 40 kHz. The closed shells are moulded from resin, and the cable is detachable at MMCX sockets.

Engineering and use context

With magnets placed on both sides of the film, BASN states that this combination of N52 magnets with an ultra-thin flat diaphragm coil is less prone to harmonic distortion. The housings use an environmentally friendly resin that keeps weight down, with an ergonomic outline intended for long sessions on stage or at home. The main lead is high-purity single crystal copper woven with a Litz shielding structure, and a second lead adds an inline microphone with volume control for phone calls, so two detachable MMCX cables arrive in every box and can be swapped according to use. The kit includes silicone ear tips and memory foam tips, each supplied in three sizes, which also set the degree of passive isolation. A storage box, a 6.3 mm adapter, a cleaning brush and a cable clip are packed in, and BASN covers the earphones with a 12-month warranty that includes a replacement option.

Pairing

With its high efficiency the ASONE needs no dedicated amplifier and runs from phones, portable players and the headphone output of a mixer or audio interface. The balanced plug of the dual-termination version suits portable players and headphone amplifiers equipped with a balanced output, while the unbalanced plug covers everything else.

Alternatives

The BASN MTPro is the other planar-driver in-ear monitor series in the brand's range, sold in the same wired earphone format.