There has been a continuous improvement in the features and battery life of wireless earbuds, while also becoming more affordable. However, the fundamental principle behind their audio drivers has remained constant since the era of wired earbuds.
Solid-state drivers are being promoted as the next major breakthrough in audio technology. They have the capability to provide a wider sound stage and more detailed audio with a faster response rate. Companies like xMEMS produce these drivers using the same principles as chipsets, and the Creative Aurvana Ace series are one of the first affordable earbuds on the market to utilize this new driver approach.
Solid-state drivers replace the coils and magnets found in traditional earbud drivers with silicon piezoelectric actuators and membranes. They have tiny silicon flaps inside that produce sound by absorbing electrical signals and transforming them into micro sound waves.
In the case of the Aurvana Ace 2, Creative uses traditional 10mm dynamic drivers for bass and mids, while the xMEMS Cowell tweeters are layered on top and are responsible for reproducing the highs.
So, does the hype around solid-state drivers hold true, and how do these earbuds compare to the competition using traditional coil and magnet tweeters? We have conducted tests and were left impressed. Here are our findings.
Design
The Aurvana Ace 2 feature a stem-shaped design with silicone in-ear tips. The buds and case have a dark-tinted look with contrasting copper hues mixed with transparent elements, allowing visibility of the actual drivers and batteries inside. In terms of aesthetics, Creative has certainly brought their own unique style to the table.
The case features a shiny copper finish when opened and has a solid closing mechanism. It is fairly compact and can fit inside a jeans coin pocket. Both the case and the buds have a matte texture that prevents fingerprints and smudges.
Each earbud weighs just 4.7 grams and fits comfortably inside the ears with the default size M tips. Despite not being ergonomic, the Aurvana Ace 2 did not cause any ear fatigue even after extended listening sessions or during physical activities like going to the gym.
The retail package includes paperwork, a USB-C charging cable, and replacement silicon tips in small and large sizes. The Aurvana Ace 2 are IPX5 water-resistant, slightly above the industry standard IPX4 splashproof rating. The case supports both wired charging via USB-C and wireless charging via any Qi-compatible charger.
Features and Companion App
The main highlight of the Aurvana Ace series is the xMEMS Cowell tweeters. These tiny solid-state micro speakers are placed above the 10mm dynamic drivers and promise exceptional clarity in the high notes, while the accompanying drivers handle the lows and mids.
The lack of moving parts inside the xMEMS tweeters makes the buds physically smaller than those with balanced armature drivers, leaving more space for other components such as a larger battery. The solid-state design is also water-resistant and does not require any calibration as they are manufactured at a foundry.
According to Creative, the Aurvana Ace and Ace 2 also cover a wider frequency range of 5Hz to 40kHz compared to the usual 20Hz to 20kHz on most other earbuds we’ve reviewed.
The buds support Bluetooth 5.3 pairing with LE Audio and come with Snapdragon Sound and AptX HD, AptX Adaptive, and AptX Lossless codecs. The latter offers a theoretical 1 Mbps bit-rate for “CD-quality” audio at 44.1kHz sampling. To fully utilize this, your audio source needs to be up to par with streaming options from various music services.
Your audio source device also needs to be equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip or newer for the optimal experience. The Aurvana Ace 2 also supports the LC3 low latency codec as well as the legacy AAC and SBC standards.
The buds feature adaptive hybrid noise canceling which offers dynamic adjustments to the level of sound leak-through based on your surrounding environment and the fit inside your ears. They also have a total of six microphones – three on each side – and support Qualcomm clear voice capture (cVc) noise suppression algorithms for clear audio during calls.
The top halves of the stems house programmable touch controls with options for managing playback, toggling between ANC and transparency modes, summoning your digital assistant, and toggling the volume. The charging case features a status LED light that indicates the battery level.
