Rise of the Empire
When I found Earwerkz made a CIEM called the Legend with 8 BA drivers and 6 crossovers two years ago, I was already intrigued in making a purchase because of the value and the idea that more adequately implemented crossovers help distribute frequencies better. The holdback was generally the lack of design options when it was still under Earwerkz. With the transformation to Empire Ears, introduction of the 14 drivers Zeus, and excellent service from Jack Vang, there was no hassle for me to get a TOTL CIEM for Christmas.
(Friendly advice – if you have small ears like me, send pictures of your impression to Jack, he will be more than happy to work with you.)
Turnaround Time & Hand Shake
This is the part where Empire Ears gives you “the best bang for the big buck”.
The build time was approximately 10 business day and most people would receive their Zeus in 15 business days if you are in the U.S. (Please note: other CIEM companies would charge extra for this quick build time and might not able to achieve this level of quality)
Empire Ears provide you with a nicely designed case with magnetic lock mechanism and a gold accent logo that fits your pelican-style hard case; whereas, other companies including Noble or 64 audio will only give you a paper sleeve or cardboard cover. This is what I call “Attention to detail” handshake style. The quality of the box is better than some of the Sennheiser’s box I got.
Accessories
Again, Packed with accessories like I have never seen before. The company has the vision of what useful accessories means to an audiophile. For example, the BTG Audio cable comes standard on Apollo and Zeus orders. I can use the big supplied pouch to protect my hard pelican case and small pouch to carry my DX90 or N6 players. The gold Empire micro-fibre cloth can clean out the fingerprint and dust on the CIEM.
A bad example from my previous CIEM was to give me a 3.5mm to 6.5mm adapter that is nickel plated. I mean what do I do with a nickel plated adapter? Audiophiles probably have tons of gold plated or even rhodium / silver plated in the drawer of their listening station.
(A good recommendation for Empire and other CIEM creator is to include a source buffer as many has brought up from various posts the need to have a UE buffer jack to clear some hiss issue)
Build Quality & Fit
Absolutely fantastic & top notch – the combination of fit, seal, isolation, and comfort.
The reason I sold my last CIEM is because the isolation and comfort was so horrible. I was getting that “either or” thing from it. Either I get the isolation by pushing the monitor in with my fingers or I hurt my canal with the edgy tips on the monitor.
(Note: a perfect impression is also crucial – make sure to argue with your audiologist if you notice any missing parts on your mold or if you move your jaw when taking the impression)
Quality of Source
Before discussing about the sound, I want to spend a moment to disappoint those who like paring their smartphones or desktop rig with Zeus XIV. I could see why some people commented this CIEM with a thick bass, rolled-off treble, or even slow granny pace. Zeus XIV is extremely source dependent - it will not sound good with everything. I tried several different sources, including my N6, HP-A4, DX90, and my friend’s N5 and X3. All of which gives Zeus a unique signature. Not to my surprise, Zeus pairs well with iBasso DX90 and N5. Through years of trials, I have found BA CIEM pairs better with a DAC chip with low THD factor, such as ESS sabre chips and top flag Asahi Kasei chip. Hiss is more noticable on my N6, less so on my DX90, and completely silent on the HP-A4 but gives Zeus a dark thick character.
Zeus is a sensitive monitor probably due to the company’s decision to implement no dampers, filters, and resistors to shape the sound. This is a good thing because I am never a follower for any marketing gimmicks, like putting a balloon in a monitor claiming to protect hearing or adding a resistor to a cable to achieve variable bass & flat response. I believe in pure sound done right with simple techniques like the Zeus. The drawback is that Zeus XIV requires a good source with low output impedance, such as DX90 with 0.1 output impedance or HM-901s with IEM card. Issue with hissing is minimal to negligent on most portable lossless players that I have tried.
Bass
Flawless even though I was not very satisfied in the beginning due to the fact that I was rocking my Sen IE800 prior to getting my Zeus XIV. Nope, Zeus’ bass is not inferior. After further burn-in, I was also switching back and forth between the Zeus and IE800 on day 2. I noticed that Zeus’ bass does have the quality of a dynamic driver with superior tightness and body. The two big bass balanced armature drivers also responded to low enough frequency that I could feel in my head. I tried hard to nitpick problems with the bass, but Zeus just performed perfectly. Sure, I had more excitement with the IE800 from the dual chamber absorber and the back pressure created by a dynamic driver. Nonetheless, the bass on the Zeus fits better into the description of a reference or monitoring bass.
Mid
Voice of God coming from a thrilling, emotional, natural, creamy, lush, and beautifully layered mid-range. I don’t use these words often to describe an IEM, but the mid(s) is really the spotlight of the Zeus XIV. Some may say an IEM sounds more engaging if it presents a V or U shape characteristic. However, the Zeus presents its excitement differently with lifelike layered vocal that sings from different points of direction.
Since I do not have better words to describe how I enjoy the mid-range, I will quote this comment I got from the review by Cymbacavum.com.
“Vocal nuances leap off the headscape. In one song that I have, background singers whisper from side to side, while the lead vocalist sings dead ahead. These background whispers come from left and right, and slightly behind the ear, like someone is literally whispering behind you and right into your ear. The lead vocalist, though, stays steadfastly in front. Harmonies are the Zeus specialty, and my favorite aspect of its presentation — they just seem to soar with mesmerizing depth.” By ShotGunShane.
Don’t get me wrong, most songs we listen to should have vocals. The Kpop that I have been listening to extensively sings in a group. In the end, Zeus positioned each singer wonderfully with stunning clarity and texture.
Treble
Perfect without any peak, splashy, or harsh sounding characters. Listening to the Zeus for the first time had me thinking the treble is a little rolled off, but I did hear a lot of air, transparency, and details in rhythmic music. I then started comparing with my IE800 again and found that IE800 gave me more treble quantity with a splashy quality.
Next, I compared it with my closed can that is highly regarded as reference level – NAD HP50. The treble on the HP50 is a close resemblance of the treble on the Zeus. They are both extended but not bright, but the HP50 is airier. The treble on the Zeus XIV is top notch with a relatively flat curve at the same level with the bass. It has all the mid-treble details including 6 kHz and 7 kHz, but no emphasis to make the sound harsh like my previous 64 audio V6 or an unnatural dip like my 4 Ai S.
It is marvelous for Empire Ears to build such a small in-ear monitor that will match the treble quality of a full size can. This is only one of the very few balanced armature drivers that is made of metal without the harsh metal treble.
Imaging and Staging
Spectacular deep which reminds me of Sennheiser IE80 that I used to own. I really love IEM with good soundstage depth. IE80 achieved awesome soundstage but it did that with the cost of bloated frequency response. On the other hand, low cost IEM, such as GR07 and XBA3, can easily give you the soundstage on X and Y axis. Whereas, Z axis is always not simple because it gives you that “out of the head” feeling and creates a 3D vocal with different layers of instrument. The Zeus XIV gives you that spectacular 3D soundstage that is adequately wide without sacrificing clarity and frequency response. The word “adequate” is important because my previous CIEM has a super wide staging but it was not adequate. The center stage was not accurate when one voice in the center became two separate voices coming from both channels.
Wrap Up
Does Zeus XIV worth the expensive value? Yes, it deserves the flagship and TOTL status. If you have a good portable source/player, Zeus XIV is no doubt a straightforward investment with superb soundstage, layering, vocal performance, resolution, build quality, and smoothness for long listening section.
If you are still not convinced after the review, Jack will make everything up with friendly and super responsive customer service. While I am writing this review, I was also having appearance issues with my Zeus on New Year Eve. I got a reply on the same day right before countdown. Thanks Jack for assuring customers’ satisfaction is well taken care of. Happy New Year to you and the Empire Crew.
When I found Earwerkz made a CIEM called the Legend with 8 BA drivers and 6 crossovers two years ago, I was already intrigued in making a purchase because of the value and the idea that more adequately implemented crossovers help distribute frequencies better. The holdback was generally the lack of design options when it was still under Earwerkz. With the transformation to Empire Ears, introduction of the 14 drivers Zeus, and excellent service from Jack Vang, there was no hassle for me to get a TOTL CIEM for Christmas.
(Friendly advice – if you have small ears like me, send pictures of your impression to Jack, he will be more than happy to work with you.)
Turnaround Time & Hand Shake
This is the part where Empire Ears gives you “the best bang for the big buck”.
The build time was approximately 10 business day and most people would receive their Zeus in 15 business days if you are in the U.S. (Please note: other CIEM companies would charge extra for this quick build time and might not able to achieve this level of quality)
Empire Ears provide you with a nicely designed case with magnetic lock mechanism and a gold accent logo that fits your pelican-style hard case; whereas, other companies including Noble or 64 audio will only give you a paper sleeve or cardboard cover. This is what I call “Attention to detail” handshake style. The quality of the box is better than some of the Sennheiser’s box I got.
Accessories
Again, Packed with accessories like I have never seen before. The company has the vision of what useful accessories means to an audiophile. For example, the BTG Audio cable comes standard on Apollo and Zeus orders. I can use the big supplied pouch to protect my hard pelican case and small pouch to carry my DX90 or N6 players. The gold Empire micro-fibre cloth can clean out the fingerprint and dust on the CIEM.
A bad example from my previous CIEM was to give me a 3.5mm to 6.5mm adapter that is nickel plated. I mean what do I do with a nickel plated adapter? Audiophiles probably have tons of gold plated or even rhodium / silver plated in the drawer of their listening station.
(A good recommendation for Empire and other CIEM creator is to include a source buffer as many has brought up from various posts the need to have a UE buffer jack to clear some hiss issue)
Build Quality & Fit
Absolutely fantastic & top notch – the combination of fit, seal, isolation, and comfort.
The reason I sold my last CIEM is because the isolation and comfort was so horrible. I was getting that “either or” thing from it. Either I get the isolation by pushing the monitor in with my fingers or I hurt my canal with the edgy tips on the monitor.
(Note: a perfect impression is also crucial – make sure to argue with your audiologist if you notice any missing parts on your mold or if you move your jaw when taking the impression)
Quality of Source
Before discussing about the sound, I want to spend a moment to disappoint those who like paring their smartphones or desktop rig with Zeus XIV. I could see why some people commented this CIEM with a thick bass, rolled-off treble, or even slow granny pace. Zeus XIV is extremely source dependent - it will not sound good with everything. I tried several different sources, including my N6, HP-A4, DX90, and my friend’s N5 and X3. All of which gives Zeus a unique signature. Not to my surprise, Zeus pairs well with iBasso DX90 and N5. Through years of trials, I have found BA CIEM pairs better with a DAC chip with low THD factor, such as ESS sabre chips and top flag Asahi Kasei chip. Hiss is more noticable on my N6, less so on my DX90, and completely silent on the HP-A4 but gives Zeus a dark thick character.
Zeus is a sensitive monitor probably due to the company’s decision to implement no dampers, filters, and resistors to shape the sound. This is a good thing because I am never a follower for any marketing gimmicks, like putting a balloon in a monitor claiming to protect hearing or adding a resistor to a cable to achieve variable bass & flat response. I believe in pure sound done right with simple techniques like the Zeus. The drawback is that Zeus XIV requires a good source with low output impedance, such as DX90 with 0.1 output impedance or HM-901s with IEM card. Issue with hissing is minimal to negligent on most portable lossless players that I have tried.
Bass
Flawless even though I was not very satisfied in the beginning due to the fact that I was rocking my Sen IE800 prior to getting my Zeus XIV. Nope, Zeus’ bass is not inferior. After further burn-in, I was also switching back and forth between the Zeus and IE800 on day 2. I noticed that Zeus’ bass does have the quality of a dynamic driver with superior tightness and body. The two big bass balanced armature drivers also responded to low enough frequency that I could feel in my head. I tried hard to nitpick problems with the bass, but Zeus just performed perfectly. Sure, I had more excitement with the IE800 from the dual chamber absorber and the back pressure created by a dynamic driver. Nonetheless, the bass on the Zeus fits better into the description of a reference or monitoring bass.
Mid
Voice of God coming from a thrilling, emotional, natural, creamy, lush, and beautifully layered mid-range. I don’t use these words often to describe an IEM, but the mid(s) is really the spotlight of the Zeus XIV. Some may say an IEM sounds more engaging if it presents a V or U shape characteristic. However, the Zeus presents its excitement differently with lifelike layered vocal that sings from different points of direction.
Since I do not have better words to describe how I enjoy the mid-range, I will quote this comment I got from the review by Cymbacavum.com.
“Vocal nuances leap off the headscape. In one song that I have, background singers whisper from side to side, while the lead vocalist sings dead ahead. These background whispers come from left and right, and slightly behind the ear, like someone is literally whispering behind you and right into your ear. The lead vocalist, though, stays steadfastly in front. Harmonies are the Zeus specialty, and my favorite aspect of its presentation — they just seem to soar with mesmerizing depth.” By ShotGunShane.
Don’t get me wrong, most songs we listen to should have vocals. The Kpop that I have been listening to extensively sings in a group. In the end, Zeus positioned each singer wonderfully with stunning clarity and texture.
Treble
Perfect without any peak, splashy, or harsh sounding characters. Listening to the Zeus for the first time had me thinking the treble is a little rolled off, but I did hear a lot of air, transparency, and details in rhythmic music. I then started comparing with my IE800 again and found that IE800 gave me more treble quantity with a splashy quality.
Next, I compared it with my closed can that is highly regarded as reference level – NAD HP50. The treble on the HP50 is a close resemblance of the treble on the Zeus. They are both extended but not bright, but the HP50 is airier. The treble on the Zeus XIV is top notch with a relatively flat curve at the same level with the bass. It has all the mid-treble details including 6 kHz and 7 kHz, but no emphasis to make the sound harsh like my previous 64 audio V6 or an unnatural dip like my 4 Ai S.
It is marvelous for Empire Ears to build such a small in-ear monitor that will match the treble quality of a full size can. This is only one of the very few balanced armature drivers that is made of metal without the harsh metal treble.
Imaging and Staging
Spectacular deep which reminds me of Sennheiser IE80 that I used to own. I really love IEM with good soundstage depth. IE80 achieved awesome soundstage but it did that with the cost of bloated frequency response. On the other hand, low cost IEM, such as GR07 and XBA3, can easily give you the soundstage on X and Y axis. Whereas, Z axis is always not simple because it gives you that “out of the head” feeling and creates a 3D vocal with different layers of instrument. The Zeus XIV gives you that spectacular 3D soundstage that is adequately wide without sacrificing clarity and frequency response. The word “adequate” is important because my previous CIEM has a super wide staging but it was not adequate. The center stage was not accurate when one voice in the center became two separate voices coming from both channels.
Wrap Up
Does Zeus XIV worth the expensive value? Yes, it deserves the flagship and TOTL status. If you have a good portable source/player, Zeus XIV is no doubt a straightforward investment with superb soundstage, layering, vocal performance, resolution, build quality, and smoothness for long listening section.
If you are still not convinced after the review, Jack will make everything up with friendly and super responsive customer service. While I am writing this review, I was also having appearance issues with my Zeus on New Year Eve. I got a reply on the same day right before countdown. Thanks Jack for assuring customers’ satisfaction is well taken care of. Happy New Year to you and the Empire Crew.
