EM-Audio EM2

"Eternal Melody EM-2: RAUH-Welt-BEGRIFF (extra wide)"



Preamble:

Originally posted on my German audio review site, the "Kopfhörer-Lounge", here comes my review of the customisable EM-2 dual-BA IEM from Eternal Melody, also known as EM-Audio.


Introduction:

EM audio was founded in 2016 by an acoustic engineer and a mechanical engineer who had already worked in the acoustic industry for more than 8 years prior to starting their own company dedicated to hand-crafting unique in-ear monitors. “EM” by the way stands for “Eternal Melody”.

EM audio has got a range of various multi-BA in-ear monitors that are offered both in universal fit form factor (UIEMs) as well as as custom-moulded in-ear monitors (CIEMs) that are available directly from their shop site or through various Asian dealerships.

As with almost any manufacturer of custom-moulded in-ears, EM audio also offers a wide range of colour and individual customisation options for their in-ears that are made specifically to the owner’s ear impressions. But this doesn’t only apply only to their CIEMs, but also to their universal fit in-ears – so unlike most universal fit in-ears on the market that feature a similar design for every model (except for if the manufacturer offers several colour options), their universal fit in-ears that are hand-crafted as well can be personalised with the same options too.



Their least expensive in-ear is the EM-2, a dual-BA in-ear with a base price of $289 for the universal fit version, which is a fairly standard price point for an in-ear with two Balanced Armature drivers per side and removable cables. What makes it rather special though is that, just like all EM audio in-ears, its colours, materials and design can be customised too, just as mentioned, making it rather unique compared to the similarly priced dual-BA competition.


What the EM-2 sounds like, how it performs and what design the nice people of EM audio chose for my review sample are topics that will be covered in this very review.


Before I move on to my actual review, I would also take the time like to thank Joey Chow of EM audio for providing me with a sample of the EM-2 free of charge for the purpose of an honest, unbiased and as always unpaid review and evaluation.


Technical Specifications:

Price: from $289 (UIEM)/$379 (CIEM)
Drivers: 2x Balanced Armature per Side
Acoustic Ways: 2
Sensitivity: 113 dB @ 1 kHz
Impedance: 21 Ohms
Frequency Response: 20 – 20000 Hz


Delivery Content:

What you get with the Eternal Melody in-ear is a white cardboard box with a black “EM” logo on top. What’s nice is that the specifications, model number and serial number are printed on both sides.



This white cardboard box has got a magnetically attached lid. Upon flipping it open, one will find the internals which are a manual, an airplane adapter, a 6.3 to 3.5 mm adapter, a cleaning tool, a bottle of cleaning spray, a very premium metallic storage/carrying tin, three pairs of silicone tips and of course the in-ear itself.



It might be important/useful to notice that the included ear tips are larger than the ones most other manufacturers provide.


Looks, Feels, Build Quality:

For the review unit, I decided to let the nice folks at EM audio choose a design they might find suitable – if you order as a regular customer, be it the UIEM or the CIEM version, unless you are very brave, it is of course you who gets to choose the colours for the shells, colours for the faceplates, materials used on the faceplate, logos and other individualisation options (some come for free, some cost extra).

You also get the ability to choose between a black or transparent silver cable.

Eternal Melody went for solid red shells and faceplates on the review in-ear. That colour looks nice and very vibrant, and I would personally refer to it as “Candy Apple Red” – EM audio decided to calle it “Apple Red”, so it looks like we had somewhat similar thoughts.

On the inner side, one can see the model number (right shell) and serial number (left shell) in yellow colour.

Build quality on the review set I received is absolutely perfect, without any visible or tactile transition from the shells to the faceplates and no inconsistencies, bubbles or whatsoever.

So my perfect C-UIEM (customisable universal fit in-ear monitor) experience that I already had with Custom Art (Ei.3) and NocturnaL Audio (Atlantis) also continues with Eternal Melody.



There is one small complaint I have though – the nozzle does not have any barb/collar. While this is usually not a problem for many universal fit in-ears, even the stock tips of the EM-2 can come loose (although just very rarely) if they weren’t pushed onto the nozzle far enough.

It’s that the EM-2 is using ear tips that don’t seem to be off-the-shelf and that have to be stretched on further than regular ear tips in order to seal well and stay on securely. Therefore their reinforced base is also stretched more and is the part that ultimately creates the seal between the nozzle and ear tip.

While there is no problem if they are put on as intended, a small barb/collar would help the tips (that are by the way very nice and soft) to stay on even better and more easily.
After mentioning this to Joey, he however told me that they are planning to change this design in the future because some other customers requested that, too (there are in-ears where a lipless design works absolutely well, however in case of the EM-2 it can be sometimes difficult to see whether the ear tips are already stretched on enough to create a tight seal and fit on the nozzle or not).



What’s interesting to mention is that the tubes that are attached to the two drivers don’t go all the way to the end of the nozzle but fire into it. Nonetheless, both drivers are equipped with an acoustic Knowles damper.

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The included removable 2-pin cable is common industry standard for most higher-end universal fit and custom fit in-ears. It has got three twisted conductors below the y-splitter and two twisted conductors (per side) above it.
Strain relief is great and a chin-slider isn’t missing either. It is very flexible and basically offers everything you wish from a reliable cable suitable for professional and more demanding casual use.

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The included carrying/storage tin is about as close to (my sense of) perfection as it can be – while it is undeniably on the heavier side since it is made of metal, it features a very premium build, has got a threaded lid, is softly bolstered on the inside with dark rubber and is on the smaller side while still offering enough space. And it looks and feels insanely beautiful as well as premium.


Comfort, Isolation:

Being in the industry for more than just a few years prior to starting the company, EM audio should have enough experience to mould an ergonomic fit universal in-ear shell that mimics the concha’s natural shape. All I can say is “mission accomplished” – the EM-2 is averagely sized for a C-UIEM/demo-CIEM type of shell, ergonomically shaped, not bulky and looks like it will fit most ear shapes well. At least it does for me and my large ears.

Due to the closed shells, ergonomic design and high quality ear tips, finding a good seal is a very easy task and noise isolation is accordingly high.


Sound:

My main sources for listening were the iBasso DX200 (AMP1 & AMP2 modules), Cowon Plenue 2 and Stoner Acoustics UD125. Critical listening was however mainly done using the DX200 (AMP1 module).

I used the largest included silicone tips for listening.

Tonality:

“Warm, slightly bass driven signature with a very smooth and laid back treble response” is the description from the website. In universal fit form and driven from a low impedance source, I would agree with everything except for the “laid back treble response” because listening to music and using a sine generator (as well as my amateur Vibro Veritas measurement setup), I can also sense an emphasis between 7 and 9 kHz.

Anyway, tonally the EM-2 greatly resembles the Brainwavz B200’s and NocturnaL Audio Atlantis’ frequency response with a bit more treble energy compared to the dark-ish Brainwavz and a somewhat more pronounced 7 kHz range compared to the Atlantis.

Just as advertised, it features a generally tendentially warm presentation in the lower midrange and upper root without affecting midrange realism or timbre negatively, has got some bass elevation and fullness that is however not overdone, and sounds overall quite smooth and coherent.

Compared to an in-ear that is tuned for a diffuse-field bass response, such as the Etymotic ER-4S/SR, the EM-2 has got about 8 dB more bass quantity and about 5 dB more than the Ultimate Ears Reference Monitors.
Therefore one could also speak of a tuning following the “case of the missing 6 dB” with a pinch of extra quantity.

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Around 700 Hz, the lows start gradually climbing and reach their zenith at about 90 Hz, although there is already a certain fullness between 100 and 200 Hz.
The bass elevation remains until about 40 Hz and loses a few decibels down to 20 Hz, although just gently, wherefore the in-ear sounds more midbass- than sub-bass-focussed without really suffering in the sub-bass.

Therefore the bass can be punchy and full if called upon but doesn’t appear overdone and doesn’t overshadow the midrange.

The midrange tends a bit into the warmer, smoother direction due to the gradually climbing elevation in the lower midrange/fundamental range. Nonetheless nothing is overshadowed or unnatural since the transition from the lows into the mids is done nicely and cohesively.
Level from the central midrange to the upper midrange is commendably flat and neutral. There is just a very mild relaxation between 2 and 5 kHz.

From 7 to 9 kHz, level is on the brighter, emphasised side. Although there is a peak in this area and although it does contribute to cymbals sounding somewhat “spread” and having a slightly metallic touch, the upper highs are still smooth and rather soft in their character wherefore they don’t appear sibilant or harsh/sharp. While they are rather smooth/soft despite being somewhat emphasised, the upper highs still don’t convey the same sense of realism and evenness of in-ears such as the InEar StageDiver SD-2, Etymotic’s models or the Noble Audio SAVANNA.

Extension past 10 kHz is just excellent, especially for a dual-BA in-ear at this price point.

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The EM audio EM-2 therefore features a tonal tuning that is appealing and can be definitely described as being well-made.

There is a pleasant, non-overdone dose of bass and warmth with a little fullness in the lower midrange, along with a natural central vocal area and neutral upper mids. The treble is also implemented relatively well despite the 7-9 kHz elevation that is however rather soft than sharp or aggressive in terms of character (nonetheless the in-ear would have been even more natural in the highs if this range was slightly tamed).
As a result, most instruments except for cymbals that appear somewhat more “spread” sound realistic and natural, with an accurate timbre.

Resolution:

Following the path with a well-made tuning, the EM-2 continues this route when it comes to technical performance. In fact, it doesn’t really show any flaw in this regard either.



Bass is just a little on the softer side, without affecting speed (that is nicely high) or control (that is very good, even with fast and demanding tracks) negatively – instead, it adds some pleasant texture and layering to the sound while still remaining very controlled with fast genres like Metal and more demanding and fast Electronic music bass lines.

Speech intelligibility is good although not as high as from in-ears in the $400/500+ class, which should not be expected in the first place anyway. Nonetheless it is excellent at its price range (Eternal Melody’s dual-BA in-ear surpasses models such as the Shure SE425 and is about on the same level as the Fischer Amps FA-3E in terms of speech intelligibility).
Midrange resolution is high as well and small nuances are unveiled quite well, too. Only the lower midrange shows a minor resolution “disadvantage” with busy recordings that feature many tonal elements or musicians due to natural masking effects that come with a smoother, fuller tuning in the root and lower midrange.

Moving on to the detail retrieval in the highs, there is nothing bad to say about that area either. Separation and details are good and single notes and cymbal crashes are separated well from each other, even when busy and/or fast tracks are being played.

Soundstage:

What makes the EM-2 very special for a multi-BA in-ear in its price class is its very open, very wide and spacious soundstage. Only very few multi-BA in-ears below $300 can compete or even come close in this regard (honestly the only model I have in mind is the Pai Audio MR3 – but even its large and open, three-dimensional soundstage is not as wide as the EM-2’s).



Indeed, the soundstage really is very wide and among the widest I have ever heard from a multi-BA in-ear – putting it into words, the Eternal Melody’s soundstage easily exceeds the base of my head and reaches from my left to my right shoulder (actually, it is even a little wider).

In relation to that sheer width, there is not much spatial depth though – although two or three rows are present and also have a decent separation/layering, they just aren’t as noticeable due to the width, wherefore the EM-2 has got more of a wide, flat spatial presentation even though it can also go forward by a little.

Separation and placement of single instruments is done in an accurate and precise way, which together with the sheer width leads to small details being presented even more easily.

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In Comparison with other Dual-BA In-Ears:

InEar StageDiver SD-2 (>>$):

The EM-2 has got ca. 3 dB more bass quantity. While measurements indicate otherwise, listening to music indicates the SD-2 to have a fundamental range/lower midrange that is thicker and reaches further into the midrange. Sub-bass extension is a bit more linear on the InEar’s side.

In the presence range, it is the SD-2 that is more forward wherefore it creates a more intimate midrange presentation.

The SD-2 has got the more relaxed upper treble that can even appear a little dull in comparison at first but is actually only smooth and inoffensive.

Still, the SD-2 is smoother and more linear in the highs.

Detail retrieval between the two in-ears doesn’t differ all that much, however when fast and busy, more demanding tracks are being played, it is the SD-2 that cannot keep up with the EM-2’s control. This is mainly because the InEar StageDiver SD-2 has got a slightly too soft bass response for Balanced Armature standards which leads to a softer, more masking bass response especially with fast recordings. Everything is absolutely fine with medium-paced and slow-ish tracks though.

So with fast and/or demanding music, such as Electro Music or Metal, it is the EM-2 that shows superiority while the two are otherwise closer in terms of detail retrieval.

Midrange details and speech intelligibility are slightly higher on the Eternal Audio in-ear’s side while the SD-2 shows a slight advantage when it comes to treble separation and treble details (its highs are in the background but their resolution is good).

The InEar’s soundstage is deeper than the EM-2’s and generally doesn’t lack any width, however the EM-2’s stage is about twice as wide in comparison. Separation and placement of single instruments are somewhat sharper and cleaner on the Eternal Melody’s side.


Brainwavz B200 (<$):

The B200 is more relaxed and darker in the treble while both in-ears have got quite similar midrange and bass levels. The Brainwavz appears smoother and more natural in the upper highs in comparison though.

Compared to the EM-2, the B200 has got the softer bass response while control is about the same.

Midrange details are somewhat higher on the EM-2’s side while treble separation is comparable again.

The EM-2 has got the wider soundstage while depth is probably about equal, however due to its sheer width, the EM audio in-ear appears ultimately less deep compared to the Brainwavz.

When it comes to separation and placement precision, both in-ears are pretty much on the same level without any being superior.

Shure SE425 (≈$):

The Shure features the flatter, more neutral bass while central and upper midrange levels are quite comparable again (the Shure is just a bit more present in the presence range, making vocals appear closer).

When it comes to treble extension, the SE425 doesn’t even come close to the EM-2 (it rolls off much earlier which leads to audibly damped cymbals).

Speech intelligibility is the only area where the two in-ears are remotely comparable (the Eternal Melody in-ear still has the lead here) while resolution is generally higher on the EM-2’s side over the entire frequency range.

In terms of soundstage, the EM-2’s is much wider, along with also a little more spatial depth. It is also the superior model when it comes to spatial precision.


Conclusion:

In addition to its advanced customisation features that just very few manufacturers offer for their universal fit in-ears, the Eternal Melody/EM audio EM-2 is also convincing when it comes to tuning (smooth, warm and balanced with natural mids and some brightness in the higher middle/upper highs) and technical abilities. On top of that, it has got a very wide (but still precise) soundstage that exceeds about any other multi-BA in-ear I know in this price class.



Any room for improvements? Really not much, regardless of the EM-2’s price class and good price-to-performance-ratio. The only things that I’d like to see are a collar/barb on the nozzle so that the ear tips fit even more securely and probably a slightly flatter upper treble response.

“EM Audio” in-ear brand had involved and experienced in development and production with high-end iem and hearing-aid companies for 8 years. From the lowest numbering “EM2” to “EM6”, every “EM series” provide with customization options for plate design, shell color, and logo in hundreds pattern. And purchasers are able to choose one of the patterns and select universal or custom fit option.







Every EM series’ package contains aluminum case, air jack, 3.5-6.5mm stereo converter plug, cleaning-spray, cleaning-tool, and 3 size(S/M/L) silicone ear-caps. Contained metal-cutting aluminum case is filled with rubber buffer which helps protect receiver. There is a manual-guide that introduces how to treat and care “em2” iem.









“EM2” is built with two balanced-armature drivers and two-way passive crossover design. Two different colored dampers are implanted along two sound tube roads and the ends of the roads are joined together, so entrance of nozzle is wide and easy to expose dirt. In order to prevent this matter, fore-ends of the ear-caps are designed Narrowly than nozzle size. Even if the wax of dust enters, since the exposed entrance is short and wide, it will be easily solved by scraping and cleaning with enclosed cleaning tool.

Weight of receiver units is lighter and smaller than other typical size custom iems. These advantages help people use it comfortably without any feeling of irritation. It adopts 2pin iem connector type and is compatible with other custom cables. The connector of the unit is made elaborate so that difficult to distinguish unless you look closely at the borders of the connectors and housing shell.





EM series’ iem cables are produced with twisted silver-plated copper wires come in two colors, black and clear. Slider and stereo plug of cable is molded with flexible PVC material that assists preventing from physical disconnection. And need to be careful about not to break the part between the receiver unit and the cable connector when it is housed in the case because the ratio of the cable is larger than the unit.








Specification
Type: Universal/Custom fit IEM
Driver: 2 BA (2 way)
Frequency Response: 20Hz~20kHz
Impedance: 21Ω
Sensitivity: 113dB @1kHz
Cable length: 1.35 m (4.4 ft)
Noise isolation: -26dB


Package contained
EM2 Unit
Silver-plated copper cable
Silicon ear-cap S/M/L (each)
3.5 to 6.5 mm Converter
Aluminium metal case
Cleaning Spray/Tool
Airplane adapter
User Manuel


Test environment
Sony NW-WM1A /NW-WM1Z
Astell&Kern AK70/300/380
Cowon Plenue D/1/M/S
Chord Hugo DAC
iPhone SE, Galaxy S6
Macbook Air 2015





The overall sound tuning focus of ‘EM2’ is in the representation of the mid-range. The sound pitch of mid is tuned slightly higher than typical, which aids not to mask the bass. Also the response of mid is pretty linear so that not shows excessive sibilance or dip.

The low-range is heavier and darker than other range that intends whole frequency seems to be closely packed. This feature does not really show muffled bass. However, the response of bass is slower than middles or highs therefore hard to catch up sonic details minutely.

With upon those effects, vocal and piano can be heard clearly and closer than other instruments. The heavy bass performs wide imaging so that makes amusing and dynamic ambience for listening to music.

Due to weighted middles and bass, high-range seems to have a lack of expression in overall frequency. But enough to show high hat details or string instruments’ riff because of suitable low-range volume.





Because of impedance and sensitivity of EM2, there was no difficulty in securing volume gauge on any devices. Depending on the device matching, the awkward phase difference may occur slightly in the higher part of the mid-range. If use a device with stable output, this part will be relaxed and the whole sound tone will be balanced without stimulation.


If still have the same matter, use another ear-caps not covering nozzle entrance. Since “EM2” is designed as a portable audio concept target, it is recommended to match without additional portable amplifier or stationary class source device with strong output.





Many want to have customized content that gives themselves and identity for good price. ‘EM2’ has a number of design customization options to suit such market trends and a level of sound quality at the same time. If you are a listener looking for your personalized design iem with proper price, I think “EM Aucio EM2” will give a lot of pleasure.







DISCLAIMER

Hello, I am a Head-fi product reviewer named 'Bigheadfiler' in South Korea. This review may not be perfect because it is my third English translation. I appreciate your understanding. Thank you.

This iem sample is rented by EM-audio's Korean official distributor 'Soundstream'.
Korean translation of this content is also posted in
"Premium Headphone Guide Korea" vol.19 Magazine.

The review is written without any constraints.



Photo & Review by Bigheadfiler 2017