AAW Z Series · Custom In-Ear Monitor
AAW Z05 CIEM
Price$499.00 SGD
AAW Z05 CIEM is the custom-fit version of Z05: the same five drivers and TwinCore switch, in a shell made from your ear impressions or ear scan. Pick your faceplate and shell colour in the configurator. It comes with Null Audio's 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 UIEM and the Z05 AuAg Launch Edition, with a USB-C DAC you can tune with parametric EQ.
- 10 mm dynamic + 4 BA
- TwinCore switch
- Custom fit
- Ethos Ultra cable
- 3.5 · 4.4 · USB-C DAC
- Parametric EQ
- Built in about 4 weeksFrom your impressions or ear scan
- Made for your earsHow to get impressions
- 1-year warrantyOn the monitors and the cable
- AAW, SingaporeFree showroom pickup · chat and phone support
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AAW Z05 CIEM
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.
The CIEM puts that platform in a shell shaped from your own ears, with the faceplate and shell colour you choose. It comes with Null Audio’s Ethos Ultra cable, whose USB-C plug is a complete DAC with parametric EQ.
At a glance
The build behind the listen
Custom shells from your impressions · your choice of faceplate · 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
- Fit
- Custom, from your impressions
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. Shown here as the universal; the CIEM carries the same parts in a shell made from your ear impressions, so it seals without a tip.
- FaceplateYour choice
- 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
- CanalCustom-fit seal
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.
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.
Finish
Your faceplate, your shell
Choose the faceplate and shell colour in the configurator above. The ice-crystal titanium alloy faceplate shown here has an iridescent crystal pattern in turquoise, pink and lavender that shifts colour as the light moves, and no two pieces are quite the same.
The shell is 3D-printed from your ear impressions or ear scan, so it sits flush in your ear and keeps the same seal every time you put it in. The cable runs over the ear to keep it settled.
In the box
Ethos Ultra included
Z05 comes with Null Audio’s Ethos Ultra, a 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.
Custom fit
The fit is part of the tuning
Seal & comfort
Shaped from your ears
With a dynamic woofer, the seal is not a footnote. A shell made from your ear impressions seals the same way every time, so bass weight, vocal centre and left-right balance stay put when you move.
There is no tip to roll or replace. The canal of the shell does the sealing, and the body sits flush in the concha.
How to order
Impressions or ear scan
Configure your faceplate and shell colour, check out, then send us ear impressions from an audiologist or a 3D ear scan. Your Z05 CIEM is built in about 4 weeks from when we receive them.
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
- ConnectPlug the USB-C DAC into your Android phone, or into a computer.
- TuneUse the Android app, or open peq.null-audio.com in Chrome or Edge on a computer.
- Write to DACSave the EQ to the DAC, then use it with iPhone or Android, no app needed.
Get the Android appScan with your Android phone to download.
peq.null-audio.com
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
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 UIEM, Z05 CIEM and Z05 AuAg
Same drivers, tuning and specifications across all three. Z05 UIEM and CIEM swap the AuAg gold-and-silver hand finish for ice-crystal titanium or your own faceplate, and swap the stock cable for Ethos Ultra with its USB-C DAC and parametric EQ.
| Feature | Z05 UIEM | Z05 CIEM | Z05 AuAg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $379.00 SGD | $499.00 SGD | $429.00 SGD |
| Fit | Universal, LiquidMorph tips | Custom, from your impressions or ear scan | Universal, LiquidMorph tips |
| Drivers | 10 mm dynamic + 2 mid BA + 2 super-high BA | Same | Same |
| Crossover | 3-way passive, TwinCore Blue / Red switch | Same | Same |
| Sensitivity / impedance | 110 dB @ 1 kHz / 12 Ω | Same | Same |
| Faceplates | Ice-crystal titanium alloy, gold Z05 and AAW marks | Your choice in the configurator | Forged carbon with gold and silver foil |
| Shells | Glossy black, 3D-printed | 3D-printed to your ears, colour of your choice | 3D-printed, hand-laced gold and silver foil |
| Cable | Null Audio Ethos Ultra, coaxial 5N single-crystal copper | Same | AAW 2-pin cable |
| Player plugs | 3.5 mm, 4.4 mm balanced, USB-C DAC; screw-locking | Same | 3.5 mm, 4.4 mm balanced, USB-C |
| Parametric EQ | 5 bands, saved on the USB-C DAC | Same | — |
| Ready | In stock | Built in about 4 weeks | In stock |
In the box
Ready for every source
- AAW Z05 CIEM in-ear monitorsOne pair, made from your impressions
- Ethos Ultra cable1.2 m, 0.78 mm 2-pin
- 3.5 mm single-ended plugScrew-locking
- 4.4 mm balanced plugScrew-locking
- USB-C DAC plug32-bit / 384 kHz, parametric EQ
- Carrying caseAAW carry case
- Leather pouchFor the Ethos Ultra cable
Specifications
Technical details
Monitor
- Type
- Custom-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
- Shell / faceplate
- 3D-printed from your ear impressions or ear scan; faceplate and shell colour chosen in the configurator
- 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 · Warranty & refit
- Build time
- About 4 weeks from when we receive your impressions or scan
- Returns
- Custom in-ear monitors can’t be returned. Defects are covered by the warranty.
- Shipping
- FedEx worldwide at a flat rate, or free pickup at the AAW showroom, 76 Playfair Rd, Singapore
Questions
Good to know
How is Z05 different from Z05 AuAg?
The look, the cable and the price. Drivers, TwinCore tuning and specifications are the same. Z05 UIEM has ice-crystal titanium alloy faceplates on black shells and Z05 CIEM takes the faceplate and shell colour you choose, instead of the gold-and-silver launch finish, and both come with Null Audio’s Ethos Ultra cable, which adds a USB-C DAC with parametric EQ.
Z05 UIEM or Z05 CIEM?
Both have the same drivers, TwinCore switch and cable. Z05 UIEM fits with ear tips and ships from stock. Z05 CIEM is made from your ear impressions or ear scan, so it seals the same way every time and isolates more, and you choose the faceplate and shell colour; it takes about 4 weeks to build.
How do I order Z05 CIEM?
Choose your faceplate and shell colour in the configurator and check out. Then send us ear impressions taken by an audiologist, or a 3D ear scan. We build your Z05 CIEM in about 4 weeks from when we receive them. Our ear impression guide at aaw.me/pages/ear-impression explains what we need.
Can I return a CIEM?
No. Custom in-ear monitors are made for your ears and can’t be returned. Defects in materials and workmanship are covered by the 1-year warranty; see our Warranty and Refit page for fit issues.
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 0.78 mm 2-pin cable.
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.
AAW Z05 CIEM
