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AAW Z05 Universal 5-Driver In-Ear Monitor

See the frequency response

AAW Z05 is a universal-fit hybrid in-ear monitor from AAW (Advanced AcousticWerkes), worn with standard ear tips. It comes with our Ethos Ultra cable and its 3.5 mm, 4.4 mm and USB-C DAC plugs.

A 10 mm dynamic woofer and four balanced armatures, with a TwinCore switch that moves the voicing between Blue (fuller, calmer) and Red (tighter, brighter). Same drivers and tuning as Z05 AuAg Launch Edition, with ice-crystal titanium alloy faceplates and a USB-C DAC you can tune with parametric EQ.

  • 10 mm dynamic + 4 BA
  • TwinCore switch
  • Ethos Ultra cable
  • 3.5 · 4.4 · USB-C DAC
  • Parametric EQ
  • Ships in under a weekFrom our Singapore studio
  • 14-day returnsUnused, in original packaging · conditions apply
  • 1-year warrantyOn the monitors and the cable · then half price for life
  • AAW, SingaporeChat and phone support
Two voicings. One cable for every source.

AAW Z05

Two voicings. One cable for every source.

Z05 is AAW’s compact five-driver hybrid: a 10 mm dynamic woofer, four balanced armatures and a TwinCore switch that moves the whole voicing between two moods.

It has the same drivers and tuning as the gold-and-silver AuAg Launch Edition, wears ice-crystal titanium alloy faceplates, and comes with our Ethos Ultra cable, whose USB-C plug is a complete DAC with parametric EQ.

  • 5 Drivers: 10 mm dynamic + 4 balanced armature
  • 2 TwinCore voicings, Blue and Red
  • 6 g Per earpiece
  • 384 kHz 32-bit USB-C DAC with parametric EQ

At a glance

The build behind the listen

AAW Z05

Glossy black shells · ice-crystal titanium faceplates · Ethos Ultra cable

  • 1 × 10 mmDynamic woofer
  • 2 ×Mid BA drivers
  • 2 ×Super-high BA drivers
  • TwinCoreCrossover switch system

Key features

  • 10 mm dynamic woofer
  • 5-driver hybrid architecture
  • 3-way passive crossover
  • Bass-Flow vent pressure system
  • TwinCore crossover switch system
Sensitivity
110 dB @ 1 kHz
Impedance
12 Ω @ 1 kHz
Total harmonic distortion
< 0.5% @ 1 kHz
Recommended drive power
20 mW+ @ 32 Ω
Recommended source
< 1 Ω output impedance
Approx. weight
6 g each / 12 g pair

Frequency response

    Compare with other models

    Measured by AAW on universal shells with one test setup. Custom shells carry the same tuning, though fit, tips and seal shift the result, above 8 kHz most of all.

    Open the measurements page →

    Inside Z05

    Five drivers, one compact shell

    Scroll to take Z05 apart. Under the faceplate sit two balanced armatures, mid and super-high, above the 10 mm dynamic woofer.

    The TwinCore switch sits in the side of the shell, the 2-pin socket in its top. Acoustic filters and a fine dust mesh guard the nozzle, and the LiquidMorph tip seals it.

    • FaceplateIce-crystal titanium
    • 4 BA driversMid and super-high
    • 10 mm dynamicPET diaphragm
    • TwinCore switchTwo voices
    • 2-pin socket0.78 mm
    • ShellBass-Flow vent
    • FiltersRed and green dampers
    • Ear tipLiquidMorph
    Five drivers, one compact shell
    Same Monitor, Two Moods

    TwinCore

    Same Monitor, Two Moods

    TwinCore is a physical two-position switch on the side of each earpiece, with a red and a blue dot marking its two positions. It changes how the crossover loads the dynamic woofer and the armatures, so the whole voicing moves, not just a bass shelf.

    Blue gives a fuller low end, calmer upper harmonics and an easy centre image for long albums. Red tightens the bass outline, brings clarity forward and adds cymbal air.

    Dynamic Body, Armature Detail

    Drivers

    Dynamic Body, Armature Detail

    A 10 mm PET-diaphragm dynamic woofer carries the bass, with two mid and two super-high balanced armatures for vocal edge and air, joined by a 3-way passive crossover.

    AAW’s Bass-Flow vent balances the pressure in your ear canal and controls the air behind the woofer, so the low end hits without pushing the midrange.

    Ice-Crystal Titanium Faceplates

    Finish

    Ice-Crystal Titanium Faceplates

    The faceplates are ice-crystal titanium alloy, with an iridescent crystal pattern in turquoise, pink and lavender that shifts colour as the light moves. Z05 and AAW are marked in gold on glossy black 3D-printed shells. The crystal pattern differs from piece to piece, so no two pairs look quite the same.

    The compact universal body sits close in the ear, and the cable runs over the ear to keep it settled.

    Ethos Ultra Included

    In the box

    Ethos Ultra Included

    Z05 comes with Ethos Ultra, our coaxial cable with a 5N single-crystal copper conductor, a silver-plated copper shield and a Kevlar core, ending in 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors.

    The player end screws off: 3.5 mm, 4.4 mm balanced and a USB-C DAC plug are all included, so phone, DAP and desktop are covered on day one.

    The tip is part of the tuning

    Clear Flange, Teal Bore

    Seal & Comfort

    Clear Flange, Teal Bore

    With a dynamic woofer, the seal is not a footnote. When the tip sits right, bass weight, vocal centre and left-right balance stop changing every time you move.

    LiquidMorph tips pair a rounded, transparent silicone flange that settles without feeling bulky with a teal inner bore that stays stable, so the low end does not collapse when the shell shifts.

    Size Tray Within Reach

    Fit

    Size Tray Within Reach

    The tips come in a tray, sorted by size, so you can check them before a long session instead of digging through a loose bag of parts.

    The right tip is often the difference between good and there it is.

    USB-C DAC + Parametric EQ

    Pick a voicing. Then fine-tune it.

    The Ethos Ultra USB-C plug is a complete 32-bit / 384 kHz DAC with a parametric equalizer built in. Choose Blue or Red on the TwinCore switch for the broad shape, then fine-tune Z05 with the Null Audio PEQ app and write it to the DAC. Your tuning plays the same on iPhone and Android.

    • 32-bit / 384 kHzHi-res DAC built into the USB-C plug
    • 5-band parametric EQAdjust frequency, gain and Q for each band
    • Saved on the DACWrite your EQ to the plug and it plays the same on any phone
    • iPhone and AndroidPlug into a USB-C phone and listen
    1. ConnectPlug the USB-C DAC into your Android phone, or into a computer.
    2. TuneUse the Android app, or open peq.null-audio.com in Chrome or Edge on a computer.
    3. Write to DACSave the EQ to the DAC, then use it with iPhone or Android, no app needed.
    QR code: https://peq.null-audio.com/

    Get the Android appScan with your Android phone to download.
    peq.null-audio.com

    Get the Android app

    Tuning needs the Android app, or Chrome or Edge on a computer; iPhone browsers can’t connect to the DAC. Once written to the DAC, your EQ plays on iPhone too.

    Try the EQ

    20 50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k Hz +12 +6 0 dB −6 −12
    A simulation of the DAC’s 5-band parametric EQ, with the same filter types and limits. Set it for real in the PEQ app, then write it to the DAC. Open the PEQ app →

    Compare

    Z05 vs Z05 AuAg Launch Edition

    Same drivers, tuning and specifications. This Z05 swaps the gold-and-silver hand finish for ice-crystal titanium alloy faceplates, and swaps the stock cable for Ethos Ultra with its USB-C DAC and parametric EQ.

    Z05 vs Z05 AuAg Launch Edition
    FeatureZ05Z05 AuAg
    Drivers10 mm dynamic + 2 mid BA + 2 super-high BASame
    Crossover3-way passive, TwinCore Blue / Red switchSame
    Sensitivity / impedance110 dB @ 1 kHz / 12 ΩSame
    FaceplatesIce-crystal titanium alloy, gold Z05 and AAW marksForged carbon with gold and silver foil
    ShellsGlossy black, 3D-printed3D-printed, hand-laced gold and silver foil
    CableNull Audio Ethos Ultra, coaxial 5N single-crystal copperAAW 2-pin cable
    Player plugs3.5 mm, 4.4 mm balanced, USB-C DAC; screw-locking3.5 mm, 4.4 mm balanced, USB-C
    Parametric EQ5 bands, saved on the USB-C DAC—
    Ready for every source

    In the box

    Ready for every source

    • AAW Z05 in-ear monitors One pair
    • Ethos Ultra cable 1.2 m, 0.78 mm 2-pin
    • 3.5 mm single-ended plug Screw-locking
    • 4.4 mm balanced plug Screw-locking
    • USB-C DAC plug 32-bit / 384 kHz, parametric EQ
    • Carrying case
    • Leather pouch For the Ethos Ultra cable
    • LiquidMorph ear tips S, M, L in a size tray

    Specifications

    Technical details

    Monitor
    Type
    Universal-fit hybrid in-ear monitor
    Drivers
    1 × 10 mm PET-diaphragm dynamic woofer, 2 × mid BA, 2 × super-high BA
    Crossover
    3-way passive, TwinCore two-position switch (Blue / Red)
    Venting
    Bass-Flow vent pressure system
    Sensitivity
    110 dB @ 1 kHz
    Impedance
    12 Ω @ 1 kHz
    THD
    < 0.5% @ 1 kHz
    Recommended drive
    20 mW+ @ 32 Ω; low or medium gain
    Recommended source
    Output impedance below 1 Ω
    Weight
    ≈6 g per earpiece, 12 g per pair without cable
    Shell / faceplate
    Glossy black 3D-printed shell; ice-crystal titanium alloy faceplate
    Connector
    0.78 mm 2-pin, detachable
    Cable: Ethos Ultra
    Construction
    Coaxial, one line per channel; Kevlar fibre core
    Signal (+)
    5N single-crystal copper, 7 × 7 × 0.08 mm
    Return (−) / shield
    Silver-plated copper spiral shield, 7 × 19 × 0.06 mm
    Length / weight
    1.2 m / ≈35 g
    Player plugs
    3.5 mm single-ended, 4.4 mm balanced, USB-C DAC; interchangeable, screw-locking
    Hardware
    CNC aluminium, PVD gunmetal grey; 24k gold-plated pins
    USB-C DAC
    DAC chip
    KTMicro KT02H20 single-chip USB audio codec
    Formats
    PCM up to 32-bit / 384 kHz; DSD64 and DSD128
    Dynamic range
    115 dB (chip specification)
    THD
    −85 dB (chip specification)
    Headphone amplifier
    Built-in Class G; drives 16 Ω earphones directly, no output coupling capacitor
    Parametric EQ
    5 bands: peak, low/high shelf, low/high pass; 20 Hz–20 kHz, ±12 dB, Q 0.2–60; saved in the DAC
    Tuning
    Android app, or peq.null-audio.com in Chrome or Edge on a computer
    USB
    USB Audio Class 1.0 / 2.0, no driver needed
    Works with
    USB-C iPhone (iPhone 15 and later), iPad and Android phones; Windows, macOS and Linux computers
    Service
    Warranty
    1 year, on the monitors and the cable
    Returns
    14 days from delivery, unused and in original packaging; 30% restocking fee, shipping not refunded. Defects are covered by the warranty.
    Ships from
    Singapore

    Reviews

    Video reviews

    • Five drivers and two TwinCore voices

      Post76 · Cantonese, Chinese subtitles · 12 min
      Review pair: purple shells, stock AAW cable; same drivers and tuning.

    Questions

    Good to know

    How is this Z05 different from Z05 AuAg?

    The look, the cable and the price. Drivers, TwinCore tuning and specifications are the same. This Z05 has ice-crystal titanium alloy faceplates on black shells instead of the gold-and-silver launch finish, and comes with our Ethos Ultra cable, which adds a USB-C DAC with parametric EQ.

    What does the TwinCore switch do?

    It is a physical two-position switch on each earpiece that changes the crossover loading between the dynamic woofer and the armatures. Blue is fuller and calmer for long sessions; Red is tighter in the bass and more forward and airy. Set both earpieces to the same position.

    Does the USB-C plug work with iPhone?

    Yes, with USB-C iPhones (iPhone 15 and later), iPads and Android phones, and with Windows, macOS and Linux computers. No driver is needed. To change the EQ, use the Android app or peq.null-audio.com in Chrome or Edge on a computer; once it is written to the DAC, it plays on iPhone too.

    Do I need the app to listen?

    No. The USB-C DAC plays as soon as you plug it in, and the 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm plugs work like any wired cable. The app is only for tuning the parametric EQ.

    Is Z05 easy to drive from a phone?

    Yes. At 110 dB and 12 Ω it runs well from the included USB-C DAC, a dongle or a DAP. A source with output impedance below 1 Ω and low or medium gain keeps the noise floor down.

    Can I use other cables with Z05?

    Yes. Z05 uses standard 0.78 mm 2-pin sockets, so it takes any of our 2-pin cables.

    What does the warranty cover?

    One year against defects in materials and workmanship, on the monitors and the cable, from the day your order is delivered.