The Omnium is the latest model from Craft Ears, which is also the new flagship. After I recently tested my first custom IEM with the Bellos X4 and was so impressed with the comfort, I also decided to go for a custom with the Omnium. After several personal messages with the very friendly CEO Jedrek from Craft Ears, I decided on the "Blue Galaxy" design with the colors silver/white, black and blue. After sending the digital ear impressions in the form of .STL files and after a processing time of approx. 2 months, I finally held my custom Omniums in my hands. Before I talk about the design, comfort and sound, I would like to shed some light on the technology behind the Omnium.
The Omnium was developed for both professional musicians and discerning audiophiles and is therefore intended to cover both areas. At the heart of achieving this goal is a very special driver setup that is rarely seen. A single 9.2mm DD driver is responsible for the bass range. A 10mm Planar Magnetic driver is responsible for the mid-range to ensure an even more natural reproduction compared to the use of pure BA drivers. The upper mids are supplemented by a BA driver. Another two BA drivers are used for the treble range. But that's not all. Another two BA drivers are used exclusively for the super high frequencies. So let's add them up. So the Omnium uses a total of 7 drivers with 3 different technologies. I'm particularly excited about the integration of the Planar Magnetic driver. I'm only familiar with the PMG Audio APX (although I haven't heard it yet), which also uses Planar Magnetic drivers, in this case two of them. Perhaps we will see this more often in newer IEM models in the future if it has a positive effect on the sound. Developments in the IEM sector therefore remain very exciting!
I would also like to mention two further developments from Craft Ears that have found their way into the Omnium. One is the "True Load" technology. This ensures that the Omnium always has the same frequency response on all DAPs, regardless of the output impedance. SES 3.0 (Space Expanse System), a sophisticated audio enhancement technology that takes the listening experience to a new level. The SES is described as a special 3D-printed horn-loaded tweeter that is meticulously tuned for precise bandwidth. Craft Ears has ingeniously positioned the tweeter at the tip of the nozzle to enhance its presence, while incorporating a special chamber to regulate its output in relation to the other drivers. Finally, a 6-way crossover network ensures that all the drivers are combined into a single sound. More on whether this succeeds later.
The Omnium's precision and meticulous construction consists of a 3D-printed housing that not only ensures durability, but also contains special waveguides to optimize sound reproduction. The result is not just an audio accessory, but a true masterpiece that offers something not only for the ears, but also for the eyes.
I enthusiastically opened my package after the Fedex letter carrier rang the doorbell. The Omnium and all the accessories are in a plastic case. In terms of dimensions, everything fits in easily. I prefer this case to the round leather cases that offer little space. There is a sticker on the lid of the case with the serial number and the owner's name. The scope of delivery includes a silver-coated OCC copper cable that can be operated differently using two interchangeable plugs in the form of 2.5mm and 4.4mm. It has a length of 1.5m and is therefore slightly longer than that of many other manufacturers (usually 1.2m). The cable is well made and very soft. I can't hear any microphonic effects. The scope of delivery also includes some stickers, a letter from the CEO and founder Jedrek Nowicki, a cleaning brush and a cable clip. All in all, the unboxing experience is rather unspectacular. The main focus here is on the essentials and that is the Omnium itself!
My custom Omnium is incredibly well made and looks fantastic! Well, blue is also my favorite color and that's why I chose this design. But Craft Ears also offers a lot of other designs. There is certainly something for everyone. The fit really is absolutely perfect. Screwing the IEMs in and out is child's play. They sit bombproof. On the first day you can still feel that there is something in the ear canal, but this gets better day by day. What I also noticed is the very high level of isolation from external noise. I've never had an IEM that isolates so well. But the Omnium is also my first "ordinary" custom IEM. I got my Bellos X4 Custom some time ago. However, due to the In Air Canals technology, it doesn't sit nearly as deep in the ear canal as the Omnium Custom does. As a result, the insulation of the Bellos X4 is not quite as high as that of the Omnium. However, the Bellos X4 is more comfortable due to the fact that you no longer feel anything in the ear canal. But no other custom IEM will be able to compete with it. Perhaps the Fir Audio E12 Custom, which has a similar design to the Bellos X4? I'll be testing that one soon too. In any case, I'm glad that my digital ear impressions seem to have turned out great and that I can use them for any subsequent custom IEMs without any problems.
For the sound test I use my two DAPs iBasso DX320 MAX Ti and FiiO M15s. I also use the Korg tube-based iBasso PB5 amplifier, which I operate together with the iBasso flagship DAP. The Omnium is absolutely easy to drive and with both DAPs you don't need more than the first gain stage to drive higher levels.
The most exciting question I asked myself after the comfort and the design is right, how does it actually sound? Tonally, it is a rather bright tuning with a touch of warmth in the mids. The bass is about 5dB below the usual Harman tuning. As I personally consider the Harman curve to be more bass-oriented, the Omnium's bass is neutral in my opinion. Neither the low bass range nor the mid bass range is emphasized here and the alignment of the bass has only one goal and that is quality! And here we really are dealing with a technically very good bass range that plays at a top level of quality. If the recording calls for it, the 9.2 mm DD driver can conjure up a hammer-hard bass curve in your eardrums. With thinner recordings like old 80s metal, however, the Omnium doesn't emphasize anything artificially and can come across as a little too thin. Personally, I would wish for 2-3dB more bass, like the AME Custom Gaia I recently tested. But that would probably affect the overall coherence and the audibility of the bass. With the FiiO M15s you can get a little more punch out of the Omnium than with the DX320 MAX Ti. However, the latter offers the more beautiful timbres. And in combination with the PB5, the punch is also quantitatively on a par with the M15s. Regardless of which of the two DAPs is used, modern metal recordings sound damn punchy and with plenty of texture. Once Upon A Time by Excalion or the new album by Rage are great fun. Ray Alder II is absolute madness with the Omnium! The 9.2 mm DD driver can do that really well without any support from BCD. But as I said, the Omnium wouldn't be my first choice for thinner recorded material like 80s metal or new wave.
From 200Hz onwards, the Omnium roughly follows the Harman curve with slightly lower upper mids and less presence. The mid-range with its sound colors is the biggest highlight of the Omnium for me. The Planar Magnetic driver conjures up a warm, full-bodied mid-range, which particularly highlights vocals wonderfully and provides a touch of tube sound. This is not the kind of mid-range that aims for maximum instrument separation, as is the case with an EE Raven, for example. Instruments play with more body and contour. But they are still placed extremely sharply in their space and can be located with ease. This Planar Magnetic driver produces an overall timbre that is not comparable with other IEMs that use DD or BA drivers. A Multiverse Mentor also plays with great timbre and fullness in the mids. Nevertheless, it is not comparable with the Omnium. Let me try to transfer this to the headphone sector. A Multiverse Mentor sounds comparable to a Focal Utopia 22 in the mids and the Omnium sounds more like a Susvara. The mids of the Omnium are spectacular for me!
The Omnium doesn't shy away from the treble either. The implementation with the two BA drivers for the treble and two additional BA drivers for the super high frequencies does a great job here. The Omnium is one of the TOTL IEMs with a very good treble range, which masters the balancing act between resolution and yet smooth reproduction fantastically well.
In general, the entire tuning from bass to treble is absolutely coherent and nothing stands out. And all of this at an absolutely top technical level. What more could you want! Yes, there are IEMs with even better treble like the Gaia or bass like the XE-6 or Raven. But an IEM with better mids? For me, the Omnium even beats the Multiverse Mentor here, albeit very narrowly.
The stage imaging is one of the more compact forms. It is somewhat wider and deeper than average (e.g. compared to the 64 Audio U4s), but is very well realized. As already mentioned, there is nothing to complain about in terms of separation and localization.
At a price of 2499€, I think the Omnium is an insider tip in the TOTL IEM range. In terms of tuning and coherence, it outperforms many candidates from higher price ranges. With a mid-range that will make any audiophile rave, the Omnium is one of the best IEMs currently available! If I could wish for anything else, it would be a sound switch with which you could increase the bass range by 3dB as required, then it would be a perfect endgame IEM!
The Omnium was developed for both professional musicians and discerning audiophiles and is therefore intended to cover both areas. At the heart of achieving this goal is a very special driver setup that is rarely seen. A single 9.2mm DD driver is responsible for the bass range. A 10mm Planar Magnetic driver is responsible for the mid-range to ensure an even more natural reproduction compared to the use of pure BA drivers. The upper mids are supplemented by a BA driver. Another two BA drivers are used for the treble range. But that's not all. Another two BA drivers are used exclusively for the super high frequencies. So let's add them up. So the Omnium uses a total of 7 drivers with 3 different technologies. I'm particularly excited about the integration of the Planar Magnetic driver. I'm only familiar with the PMG Audio APX (although I haven't heard it yet), which also uses Planar Magnetic drivers, in this case two of them. Perhaps we will see this more often in newer IEM models in the future if it has a positive effect on the sound. Developments in the IEM sector therefore remain very exciting!
I would also like to mention two further developments from Craft Ears that have found their way into the Omnium. One is the "True Load" technology. This ensures that the Omnium always has the same frequency response on all DAPs, regardless of the output impedance. SES 3.0 (Space Expanse System), a sophisticated audio enhancement technology that takes the listening experience to a new level. The SES is described as a special 3D-printed horn-loaded tweeter that is meticulously tuned for precise bandwidth. Craft Ears has ingeniously positioned the tweeter at the tip of the nozzle to enhance its presence, while incorporating a special chamber to regulate its output in relation to the other drivers. Finally, a 6-way crossover network ensures that all the drivers are combined into a single sound. More on whether this succeeds later.
The Omnium's precision and meticulous construction consists of a 3D-printed housing that not only ensures durability, but also contains special waveguides to optimize sound reproduction. The result is not just an audio accessory, but a true masterpiece that offers something not only for the ears, but also for the eyes.
I enthusiastically opened my package after the Fedex letter carrier rang the doorbell. The Omnium and all the accessories are in a plastic case. In terms of dimensions, everything fits in easily. I prefer this case to the round leather cases that offer little space. There is a sticker on the lid of the case with the serial number and the owner's name. The scope of delivery includes a silver-coated OCC copper cable that can be operated differently using two interchangeable plugs in the form of 2.5mm and 4.4mm. It has a length of 1.5m and is therefore slightly longer than that of many other manufacturers (usually 1.2m). The cable is well made and very soft. I can't hear any microphonic effects. The scope of delivery also includes some stickers, a letter from the CEO and founder Jedrek Nowicki, a cleaning brush and a cable clip. All in all, the unboxing experience is rather unspectacular. The main focus here is on the essentials and that is the Omnium itself!
My custom Omnium is incredibly well made and looks fantastic! Well, blue is also my favorite color and that's why I chose this design. But Craft Ears also offers a lot of other designs. There is certainly something for everyone. The fit really is absolutely perfect. Screwing the IEMs in and out is child's play. They sit bombproof. On the first day you can still feel that there is something in the ear canal, but this gets better day by day. What I also noticed is the very high level of isolation from external noise. I've never had an IEM that isolates so well. But the Omnium is also my first "ordinary" custom IEM. I got my Bellos X4 Custom some time ago. However, due to the In Air Canals technology, it doesn't sit nearly as deep in the ear canal as the Omnium Custom does. As a result, the insulation of the Bellos X4 is not quite as high as that of the Omnium. However, the Bellos X4 is more comfortable due to the fact that you no longer feel anything in the ear canal. But no other custom IEM will be able to compete with it. Perhaps the Fir Audio E12 Custom, which has a similar design to the Bellos X4? I'll be testing that one soon too. In any case, I'm glad that my digital ear impressions seem to have turned out great and that I can use them for any subsequent custom IEMs without any problems.
For the sound test I use my two DAPs iBasso DX320 MAX Ti and FiiO M15s. I also use the Korg tube-based iBasso PB5 amplifier, which I operate together with the iBasso flagship DAP. The Omnium is absolutely easy to drive and with both DAPs you don't need more than the first gain stage to drive higher levels.
The most exciting question I asked myself after the comfort and the design is right, how does it actually sound? Tonally, it is a rather bright tuning with a touch of warmth in the mids. The bass is about 5dB below the usual Harman tuning. As I personally consider the Harman curve to be more bass-oriented, the Omnium's bass is neutral in my opinion. Neither the low bass range nor the mid bass range is emphasized here and the alignment of the bass has only one goal and that is quality! And here we really are dealing with a technically very good bass range that plays at a top level of quality. If the recording calls for it, the 9.2 mm DD driver can conjure up a hammer-hard bass curve in your eardrums. With thinner recordings like old 80s metal, however, the Omnium doesn't emphasize anything artificially and can come across as a little too thin. Personally, I would wish for 2-3dB more bass, like the AME Custom Gaia I recently tested. But that would probably affect the overall coherence and the audibility of the bass. With the FiiO M15s you can get a little more punch out of the Omnium than with the DX320 MAX Ti. However, the latter offers the more beautiful timbres. And in combination with the PB5, the punch is also quantitatively on a par with the M15s. Regardless of which of the two DAPs is used, modern metal recordings sound damn punchy and with plenty of texture. Once Upon A Time by Excalion or the new album by Rage are great fun. Ray Alder II is absolute madness with the Omnium! The 9.2 mm DD driver can do that really well without any support from BCD. But as I said, the Omnium wouldn't be my first choice for thinner recorded material like 80s metal or new wave.
From 200Hz onwards, the Omnium roughly follows the Harman curve with slightly lower upper mids and less presence. The mid-range with its sound colors is the biggest highlight of the Omnium for me. The Planar Magnetic driver conjures up a warm, full-bodied mid-range, which particularly highlights vocals wonderfully and provides a touch of tube sound. This is not the kind of mid-range that aims for maximum instrument separation, as is the case with an EE Raven, for example. Instruments play with more body and contour. But they are still placed extremely sharply in their space and can be located with ease. This Planar Magnetic driver produces an overall timbre that is not comparable with other IEMs that use DD or BA drivers. A Multiverse Mentor also plays with great timbre and fullness in the mids. Nevertheless, it is not comparable with the Omnium. Let me try to transfer this to the headphone sector. A Multiverse Mentor sounds comparable to a Focal Utopia 22 in the mids and the Omnium sounds more like a Susvara. The mids of the Omnium are spectacular for me!
The Omnium doesn't shy away from the treble either. The implementation with the two BA drivers for the treble and two additional BA drivers for the super high frequencies does a great job here. The Omnium is one of the TOTL IEMs with a very good treble range, which masters the balancing act between resolution and yet smooth reproduction fantastically well.
In general, the entire tuning from bass to treble is absolutely coherent and nothing stands out. And all of this at an absolutely top technical level. What more could you want! Yes, there are IEMs with even better treble like the Gaia or bass like the XE-6 or Raven. But an IEM with better mids? For me, the Omnium even beats the Multiverse Mentor here, albeit very narrowly.
The stage imaging is one of the more compact forms. It is somewhat wider and deeper than average (e.g. compared to the 64 Audio U4s), but is very well realized. As already mentioned, there is nothing to complain about in terms of separation and localization.
At a price of 2499€, I think the Omnium is an insider tip in the TOTL IEM range. In terms of tuning and coherence, it outperforms many candidates from higher price ranges. With a mid-range that will make any audiophile rave, the Omnium is one of the best IEMs currently available! If I could wish for anything else, it would be a sound switch with which you could increase the bass range by 3dB as required, then it would be a perfect endgame IEM!