Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi Review

2024 is a rather inventive year for Creative. They released speakers, headphones, earbuds, soundbar, USB audio interfaces. They announced a new Gen 4 SXFI and have the tech built-in to wireless headphones like the Zen Hybrid SXFI. They also released a new premium Pebble Nova 2.0 speakers that is their most powerful model. And just as we welcome 2025, here is another new true wireless earbuds to start the year.

Thanks to Creative for providing the new Aurvana Ace Mimi weeks before the official launch, so I am able to do a full review in time to publish. The true wireless earbuds retail in Singapore at S$189, and if you order with promo code “CREATIVECT“, you get 10% off.

The Aurvana Ace Mimi is a midnight blue variant of the Aurvana Ace series. It’s a Creative way (pun intended) to differentiate the various models under the same product line so by looking at the product colour, you know exactly which model it is even though the earbuds look identical. Here is a comparison table of the Aurvana Ace series launched as of 3 Jan 2025:

Here are all the specs that are common across all the models:

• Driver: xMEMS + 10mm dynamic
• Microphones: 3 per earbud
• Water Rating: IPX5
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
• Wireless Charging: Yes

The Aurvana Ace Mimi now includes LDAC audio codec but removed all aptX variants. Creative has upped the ante with more eartip sizes, and also included a nice velvet-like pouch with gold-coloured string which I thought seems like a better pairing with the Aurvana Ace 2.

I am testing the earbuds based on firmware 2.1.241018.1537, so the audio experience may vary with future updates. What I found is that the LDAC codec version delivers better treble clarity than the LE Audio LC3 codec version on Google Pixel 7 Pro. Conversely, the Aurvana Ace 2’s LC3 version sounds more revealing than the aptX codec version on the same phone. The Creative product manager I spoke with shared that the Aurvana Ace Mimi is tuned to be close to the Aurvana Ace 2, and I largely agree although the results vary depending on which codec you use. If I compare the LE Audio version between the 2 earbuds, the Aurvana Ace 2 is superior. When comparing with the non-LE Audio codec, the Aurvana Ace Mimi’s LDAC performance wins the Aurvana Ace 2 aptX sound. In the best codec, I find the Aurvana Ace Mimi’s treble is a little more revealing, the bass is tighter and less loose, the midrange is slightly leaner. A comparison with Technics AZ80 reveals that the AZ80 is better in sound staging which is more roomy, the bass is less forward and compact. The Aurvana Ace Mimi offers better musical speed and precision.

Creative also reverted its noise cancelling engine to the hybrid ANC, removing the adaptive hybrid element to make it more reliable. User can adjust the ANC level manually from the app. The ambient mode level can also be adjusted, albeit in three levels. I find the ANC and ambient modes performance quite identical to the Aurvana Ace 2.

All Aurvana Ace series support Auracast which is a Bluetooth broadcast format based on LE Audio. On the Creative app, you can easily search for broadcast source, whereas other models would require you to search using touch gestures on the earbud. The audio quality from the broadcast source is of lower quality, but the advantage is that multiple headphones can receive the audio. Auracast is useful at public places like airports, and museums.

The triple mic setup is able to keep the speaker voice audible in the midst of environment noise. The voice is warm and chesty, and when the background noise gets too loud, the voice can break a bit due to the active noise removal, but as long as you speak up and slowly, the other party is able to follow your conversation.

The biggest new feature is literally in the product name. Creative has collaborated with Mimi Hearing Technologies to support the Mimi Sound Personalization software that is quite widely used by other manufacturers, including Beyerdynamic, Focal, Nothing. The process is to go through a listening test comprising of very soft frequency tones and the listener has to press and hold the on-screen button whenever the tone can be heard. Suffice to say, you need to conduct the test in a quiet environment, and you might want to do the test a few times to get the hang of it.

I did the test a few times and find the results generally consistent. The graph shows my hearing sensitivity, where the lower the line, the more compensation needed to bring the frequency up so that I can hear it. The graph suggests that my hearing is poorer at the lower frequency, which is probably an unusual outcome because when people age, they tend to be less sensitive at higher frequency.

I have tried many sound personalisation tools previously, and most of the time, I still prefer listening to the non-personalised version. I think I am used to what I hear, and based on so many audio products that I have reviewed, I think my ears On the Aurvana Ace Mimi, I actually do not hear significant difference when the Sound Personalisation is enabled. It does not mean that the tool does not work, but merely means I’m used to what I hear. Maybe I should get used to the personalised tuning.

Verdict

Is the Aurvana Ace Mimi worth getting when the previous models are available at a lower price? I prefer the sound of the Aurvana Ace Mimi in LDAC codec which delivers a more uplifting treble that befits the MEMS driver characteristics. With a more controlled midrange and a tighter bass, music is a little more exciting than the Aurvana Ace 2.

If you yearn for an Aurvana Ace series with better treble definition and tighter bass, plus the ability to test your ears with a personalisation software, then check out the Mimi. Enjoy 10% off when you buy from the Creative Online Store using my promo code “CREATIVECT”.

Summary

Reviewer

Chester Tan

Review Date

2025-01-04

Reviewed Item

Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi

Author Rating

5

Product Name

Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi

Price

SGD 189