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Shanling AE10 In-Ear Monitors Review

A balanced armature in-ear monitor from Shanling listed at $999. The page lists a 0.78mm 2-pin replaceable cable, two switches that give four modes and 5.3g per earphone, but the listing text gives no impedance or sensitivity figures.

4.0Editorial rating: 4.0 out of 5Editorial rating · research-basedUpdated November 11, 2026
$999Price checked November 12, 2026Pre-order only at Linsoul at our last check (November 12, 2026)
Check price at Linsoul

Our verdict

A $999 balanced armature IEM for someone who wants a replaceable 0.78mm 2-pin cable, switches for four modes and a stated 5.3g per earphone. Look elsewhere if you need impedance, sensitivity or a frequency response, since the listing text gives none. The main caveat is that the page's sound descriptions are the maker's wording and are not checked here.

Best for
Someone who wants a balanced armature IEM with a swappable 0.78mm 2-pin cable and mode switches.
Skip if
You need a listed impedance, sensitivity or cable length before buying.

Shanling's AE10 is built around balanced armature drivers, which the page lists in six frequency bands, including 2 Knowles units for the high range and a customized unit for the ultra-high range. A fourth-order RLC, per the page, handles the frequency division, and two switches add four modes. Each earphone weighs 5.3g per the page, and the AE10 is listed at $999 as a single option.

Options and pricing

The AE10 comes as one orderable option at $999. The page describes two electronic switches, one for low frequencies and one for high frequencies, each with two settings, which makes four combinations without any extra option to buy. The replaceable cable uses a 0.78mm 2-pin connection, and the listing text names no plug type, so the plug on the cable still needs checking on the live page.

How it compares

At the same $999, the Custom Art Fibae 5 has a listing that mentions planar drivers and the THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII starts from $999 with a listing that mentions electrostatic drivers, while the AE10 page names balanced armature drivers. The Open Audio Alkaid costs $935 and carries a Hybrid mention in its listing.

Shipping

  • Methods and costs. The store's shipping page offers Standard Shipping (4PX, Yanwen or Yun Express), free for most countries, and Express Shipping (DHL Express, FedEx or SF Express) at 15-50 USD depending on the country, free for orders over 270 USD in most countries (checked 2026-11-11).
  • Delivery times. It says an in-stock order ships within 3 working days, Standard takes about 2 weeks after shipping out (up to 1-3 months for some countries, and the store makes no refund for that transit time) and Express takes about 3-7 days. Festive seasons and other circumstances can change the timing.
  • Taxes and fees. The buyer pays any customs, import or processing fees. The page says Standard via YunExpress is tax-inclusive for some countries, that remote areas can carry extra Express charges, and that a parcel refused or left uncollected over taxes is deducted two-way freight and may be destroyed with no refund.
  • Where it ships. The page says the store can generally ship to most countries by Express and many by Standard, and to confirm Standard with the team for your country. It cannot ship to PO boxes or APO/FPO addresses and can only use Express to Hawaii. It does not name the US, Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand, so confirm before you pay.
  • Lost parcels. If a parcel has been in transit for at least 3 months, the page offers a one-time reshipment or a full refund for orders under $50 and a 50% refund for orders above $50.

Returns and warranty

  • Returns. The return page allows returning any non-customized product that is still factory sealed within 30 days of receiving it, with the buyer paying the shipping. Email [email protected] within that period; the store asks for the return to be shipped within 5 working days of the RMA instructions and in most cases processes a refund within 5 business days of inspecting it (checked 2026-11-11).
  • Opened items. A product opened within the first 7 days after delivery can be returned for the price minus a restocking fee of 35% of its retail value, including when it still works properly.
  • Refund or credit. The buyer can choose a refund to the original payment method (PayPal or card) or store credit; with no answer within 48 hours of confirmation the default is store credit, which can also be prioritized during promotions, final-sale events and for items 40% or more off retail.
  • Not returnable. Customized products, including faceplate designs, are non-refundable, and the page says the same applies to carry cases, cables, ear tips and other accessories, "due to hygiene purposes". If one item in a package is defective, incorrect or missing, the refund or replacement covers only that item.
  • Warranty. The page gives a 1-year warranty on products, excluding carry cases, ear tips and other accessories, and 3 months on cables and adapters, from the date of purchase. It covers factory defects that affect proper function, not damage from human error, negligence, accidents, dismantling, water, abuse or modification (checked 2026-11-11).
  • Not covered or limited. It does not apply to items bought elsewhere (AliExpress, Amazon, local dealers and the like), prize or giveaway items, normal wear or colour change, commercial use, or items that were stolen or went missing. Coverage is limited for products 40% or more off retail, for review units and for items repaired or modified by anyone Linsoul has not authorized.
  • Claims. Email [email protected] with the order number, the issue and photos and videos of the fault. The store may ask for the unit back for a replacement. It covers shipping for some defects reported within 7 days of delivery if the fault can be shown on video or photo; after 7 days the buyer ships it back. For wrong or missing items an unboxing video of the whole sealed parcel is required.

Before you buy

Linsoul says it was founded in 2016 by the Crazy HiFi team to bring Chinese HiFi makers closer to listeners worldwide, and that it now sells other makers' products alongside four brands of its own, THIEAUDIO, Kiwi Ears, ZiiGaat and Tripowin (checked 2026-11-11).

We have not read any independent review of this product or of the store. Ratings and owner reviews shown on the store's own pages are the store's and were not verified.

What we liked

  • The page lists its balanced armature drivers band by band, including 2 Knowles drivers for the high range
  • Two switches give four mode combinations, per the page
  • The page states a weight of 5.3g per earphone
  • The replaceable cable is described as an 8-strand, 18-core single crystal copper design with a 0.78mm 2-pin connection

Worth noting

  • The listing text gives weight and driver layout but no impedance, sensitivity or frequency response
  • No total driver count is stated; the page lists drivers band by band
  • The listing text names no cable plug type or length
  • The page gives no figures for what each switch setting changes

Questions before you buy

What drivers does the AE10 list?

The page lists balanced armature drivers only: 2 for ultra-low and 2 for low frequencies, 1 for mid-low and 2 for mid, 2 Knowles for high and 1 for ultra-high. It does not state a total count.

How do the sound modes work?

The page describes two switches, one for low frequencies and one for high frequencies, each with two settings, giving four combinations. It does not say what each setting changes.

What cable does it use?

The page lists a replaceable 8-strand, 18-core single crystal copper cable with a 0.78mm 2-pin connection. The listing text names no plug type or length.

Can I return it if I change my mind?

The return page allows returning a non-customized product that is still factory sealed within 30 days of receiving it, with the buyer paying shipping. An opened product returned within 7 days carries a 35% restocking fee. Refunds go to the original payment method or to store credit, which is the default if you do not choose.

How long does shipping take?

The shipping page says in-stock orders ship within 3 working days. Standard Shipping takes about 2 weeks after shipping out, up to 1-3 months for some countries, and Express takes about 3-7 days. Standard is free for most countries; Express costs 15-50 USD and is free over 270 USD (over $499.99 for large items such as headphones and desktop DAC/AMPs).

Does Linsoul ship to the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand?

The page says Linsoul can generally ship to most countries by Express and many by Standard, and to ask the team about Standard for your country. It names no restriction for the US, Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand, but it does not list them either, and it can only use Express to Hawaii.

What warranty does it have?

The page gives a 1-year warranty on products from the purchase date for factory defects, not for human error, accidents or modification. Coverage is limited for items 40% or more off retail and for review units, and it does not apply to items bought from other sellers.

Sources & verification

What this review is based on and the day we last read it. Specs and claims from the maker are the maker’s own; the verdict and the rating are ours.

From the store

  • Shanling AE10 product page: specs, options and price (the buy buttons go there)Specs, options and the listed priceRead November 11, 2026
  • Linsoul shipping pageStandard and Express shipping, costs and times, import taxes, lost parcels, couriers, trackingRead November 11, 2026
  • Linsoul return policy and warranty page30-day returns of sealed items, 35% restocking fee on opened ones, 1-year and 3-month warranties, exclusions, how to claimRead November 11, 2026
  • Linsoul support FAQThe same shipping, return and warranty rules in question form, plus order changes and cancellationsRead November 11, 2026
  • About LinsoulFounded in 2016 by the Crazy HiFi team; names its own brands; the awards listed there are the store's own accountRead November 11, 2026

What we couldn’t verify

  • The page's sound descriptions (deep, rich, natural, smooth, bright, airy) are the maker's claims and were not checked here.
  • The page's claims of sound insulation and an antibacterial cable coating were not checked here.
  • Per the page, the listing text gives no impedance, sensitivity, frequency response, cable length or plug type.
  • We have not read an independent review of this product or the store, and the store's own ratings were not verified. We read the store's catalog description only: a specification table or image shown just on the live page was not read.
  • The shipping page names no US, Canada, UK, Australia or New Zealand times or fees: its figures are general and we could not confirm them for these countries.

Spotted an error or something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it and update the date.

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