Wired headphones are gaining popularity, driven by both aesthetics, often inspired by celebrities, and sound quality, which can surpass that of wireless models. One advantage of wired headphones is the smaller number of components, allowing manufacturers to invest more in drivers, which are responsible for sound generation. Furthermore, the larger internal space facilitates the speakers' work, unlike true wireless models, where reduced space impacts acoustics.
In recent years, the wired headphone market has been transformed by Chinese companies such as KZ, Moondrop, and Truthear, which introduced affordable and high-performance models. This movement, known as Chi-Fi (derived from Hi-Fi, meaning high fidelity), also saw the emergence of partnerships between manufacturers and audio reviewers, such as the Singaporean Crinacle (who has the brand CrinEar) and the American HBB.
These two trends converged in Brazil with the launch of the Kuba Auri headphones. Kuba, a company established several years ago, is known for its Disco headphones and was founded by Carioca Leonardo Drummond, creator of the Mind the Headphone channel, dedicated to audio analysis and boasting 438 thousand subscribers on YouTube.
Although the Auri are produced in China and based on a Chinese model with a USB-C cable and dynamic driver per side, they feature a distinctive characteristic: their equalization was created in Brazil by Kuba. This equalization resulted from an online survey conducted with over a thousand people to determine the Brazilian public's preference regarding the balance of bass, mids, and treble.
Based on this investigation, Drummond developed an equalization curve for the headphones. This process involved technical challenges, such as compensating for deviations and natural resonances of the drivers, in addition to negotiations with suppliers to achieve the ideal result. The final result is a pleasant sound, characterized by abundant bass, but without compromising the clarity of the mids or the brightness of the highs. The Auri reveal many musical details and possess remarkable spatiality, giving the sensation that the sound is around the head, rather than contained within it, as occurs in in-ear headphones.
For those who are not audiophiles and are only used to true wireless headphones, the Auri can represent a great discovery. For audiophiles, there is an additional feature: an online interface that allows applying ten distinct equalization curves. By connecting the headphones to a PC or Mac and accessing the website equalizador.kuba.audio, the user can select and activate the desired curve. This setting is saved on the cable, working even when the audio is played on mobile devices, although changing the equalization is not possible via mobile.
Besides the main curve, the website offers options such as Natural (with less bass), Basshead (with more bass), and Energetic (ideal for rock). These equalizations are based on the actual performance of the drivers and include precise corrections to approximate target curves, being more accurate adjustments than those obtained with generic applications like Wavelet. The site also presents curves popular among audiophiles, such as Harman (developed by Samsung since 2017), JM-1 (more recent and more neutral), and Etymotic, known for its extreme focus on detail with bass attenuation.
In terms of physical usability, the Auri are comfortable, featuring three sizes of silicone tips, and the cable is durable, not easily tangled or noisy when rubbing against clothing. Additionally, the cable is detachable, allowing it to be replaced if damaged over time. The only physical drawback is the absence of a grille in the headphone opening to prevent the entry of earwax and debris.
Currently, the Auri are available on the company's official website for R$ 287. This price is considered attractive, offering excellent audio quality and the versatility of multiple equalization curves, providing an experience comparable to owning several different headphones.