Effect Audio X Empire Ears : "Merlin"

Summary
- Merlin : Merlin(Empire Ears/Earphone units) + Rowan(Effect Audio/Cable)
- Empire Ears Spartan’s base tuned
- 4 balanced armature drivers(1 high, 2 midranges and 1 bass)
- Gold plated copper is used for Rowan cables
- Wide soundstage and great punchy sound
- Unique voice texture and outstanding upper midrange
- All-round In-Ears, but especially great with songs focused on vocals
- Similar sound balance with Arthur, the other Effect Audio x Empire Ears Collaboration In-Ear.
 
You probably have seen a word ‘Collaboration‘ often in Sportswear or fashion industry. ‘Collaboration’ is that two other brands produce and design products together to generate significant synergy. It is a good marketing tool for companies to promote two companies at the same time to the customers who only knew one company before, and many companies use this magic trick a lot.
 
You can also see collaborations between earphone companies and a fashion companies. For example, Sennheiser produced some products with Adidas, and AKG released new models which Quincy Jones participated in. In short, it is easy to see collaboration works in head-fi worlds.
 
Effect Audio is a company producing CIEM. It produced Merlin, universal type earphones with Empire Ears. Empire Ears’s earphones met Effect Audio’s cables. I want to say they are meant to be together.
 
 
Effect Audio, providing Empire Ears, Vision Ears and Custom Art(CIEM companies) to cables, is located in Singapore. It pursue ‘every units has to have right cables.’ As a result, it boost its popularity, thanks to finest wires and components giving unique personality to products. Plus, it responses fast to the customers.
 
Effect Audio released new project with other CIEM brands. The first collaboration product was Genesis, which is the result of the collaboration with Jomo Audio. Genesis was a limited edition and sold in Japan. After the project, It released another project. Empire Ears was the partner.
 
Empire Ears is IEM manufacturer, who launched 14 BA mounted ZEUS. It was famous for the largest number of drivers. In fact, Its name was Earwokz ,but it changed its name to Empire Ears.  It has large fan base due to unique nozzle design and high-resolution sound. ZEUS used many drivers so that deliver rich low midrange and fit to Jazz or Soul. Although it is CIEM brand, its main products were universal line-up then.
 
 
Effect Audio released Arthur, collaboration product with Empire Ears. It named its product after Arthur from ”King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.” What’s more, the cable’s name is Excaliber!, and Arthur has 14 BA drivers. You all might know it is the name of King Arthur’s sword. Arthur is introduced to Korea as well. Customers really surprised about the price and magnificent sound which earphone can’t reproduce usually.
 
Merlin is the second collaboration IEM. The name, Merlin is a sage who assist Arthur in ”King Arthur in his Knights of the Round Table.” Also, the cable’s name, Rowan, is the cane’s name which Merlin had. Merlin has 4 BA drivers and based on Spartan of Empire ears. It was newly born IEM with the Rowan cable and collaboration between the two companies.
 
Merlin’s package is finished using plain black compared to Arthur’s shinny silver. A hard pelican case comes with it, and Comply foam sleeves, Spin fit, two pouches, and cleaning kit are also included. Most of the accessories have Empire’s logo on them, so it looks like Empire Ears’ products.
 
 
Merlin has small units. One for high, two for midrange and the other is for bass, total 4 drivers. Therefore, even if you have small ears, it would be comfortable for long time listening. The universal one has unique nozzle, which is straight and well finished. It means Merlin is comfortable IEM with any types of sleeves. The color of the units is clear purple(it almost looks like blue), and the faceplates have marbling on them. Distinctive faceplates are produced in limited quantities, and the pattern is changed. If you want this faceplates, go get them fast!
 
 
Rowan, Merlin’s cable, has 28gauge gold plated copper wires, Oyaide’s plug, Eidolic’s splitter, and in-house 2Pin connector. The ear-guides fit on the ear shape without any tube or wire and the  insulator is soft and flexible. Furthermore, the gold plated silver copper cable looks gorgeous. It looks more gorgeous than Arthur’s Excalibur.
 
 
Sources for this review was AUNE M2, IPhone 7+, iMac+Apogee One DAC, Sony WM1A, and many different devices with wide range of music. Standard comply gave punchy and solid sound extending high, while bass was not booming. Thus, I could listen analytically. On the other hand, Spin fit gave wide sound stage and well-detailed vocal’s texture. In general, Spin fit delivered more unique sound, so I decided to start listening for review with Spin fit.
 
 
Merlin has high sensitivity. There were no problems with DAP or IPhone 7+, but It’s quite sensitive for Audeze’s Deckard, stationary type amplifier. I recommend to use noise-canceling sources to enjoy the texture of midrange and wide sound stage. In fact, it is related to rough texture on midrange. It need to be burned-in for a certain period time after open the package, therefore you should burn-in your product at least for 20 hours. It will be interesting to listen to how Merlin change its sound. Impedance is 20ohms, therefore, you can use smartphones or any kind of devices.
 
 
Merlin sounded splendid. It produced wide sound stage and three-dimensional sound. Bass extended horizontally, and midrange extended back and forth, which all made wide sound stage. Dynamics and sense of volume were great too. Details were also fantastic. These features stand out with vocals with long take and lots of reverbs, sounds attractive high density vibe and reverb like aroma.
 
I felt rough texture, but not rough in some sense, which made breathe, throb, husky voice doubled. All mixed well with the wide sound stage. As a result, music was greatly delivered. In addition, Violins and pianos sounded fantastic. Arthur, 14 drivers mounted IEM, produce Merlin-like sound as well. However, Arthur has 6 drivers for midrange compared to Merlin with 2 midrange drivers. It is truly surprising that 2 drivers can reproduce this splendid sound. Arthur has similar sound to Merlin( but more expensive). If you can’t afford to Arthur, Merlin would be the great choice.
 
This signature of sound reminded me of some headphones. It means Merlin has unique and rich sound. Merlin and Rowan is well matched for this great sound. If you connect Merlin or Rowan to other devices, it wouldn’t deliver unique and rich sound. I have asked SY before, the president of Effect Audio, “what is Effect Audio’s philosophy”, and he answered “We make perfect cables for each units using finest materials. That is our philosophy.” Effect Audio proved it through the collaboration with Empire Ears. In conclusion, you have to connect Rowan cable to Merlin units to enjoy rich texture of universal IEM Merlin.
 
 
The unique sound Merlin reproduce increase user confidence, and shows absolute reliability. Effect Audio seems to have plans to collaborate with other companies in the future, and I am already looking forward to it.