Empire Ears Valkyrie

The Empire Ears Valkyrie is one of the newer IEM models from the company's X-Series of monitors. The Valkyrie is $1599 and is a tri-brid, 3-driver setup with a dynamic driver woofer, a balanced amature, and a Sonion Electrostatic Tweeter (EST) driver. This along with the Wraith are two of the tribrid IEMs that Empire Ears released in 2019.

I joined a Head-Fi tour of the Empire Ears Wraith and Valkyrie and being the last one of the tour, as of writing this, I was quickly sent these two units. I’d like to thank Empire Ears and Barra from Head-Fi for allowing me a chance to try these out.


Accessories & Build/Fit
The Valkyrie comes with in an average sized box with very cool drawer compartments much like the Sony IER-Z1R but on a smaller scale. It comes with a metal carrying case, a nicely braided Effect Audio Eros II cable, and a set of Final Type E tips and cleaning tools. I found the cable to be nicely made and looks attractive, however I did not like how springy it is which makes it a little hard to maneuver and hold in place.

The Wraith and Valkyrie differ a bit in design and size. The Valkyrie has a thinner shell which is a little lighter and easier to wear. It also has a spectacular green/blue/red shell that glows in different lighting, much like oil's rainbow refraction glow in sunlight. My photos in this review do not do it justice. In comparison, the Wraith looks rather boring and bland.



For the review I opted to use my own 4.4mm and 2.5mm balanced cables to make use of my various sources. For the sources, I used a mixed bag of digital audio players and desktop gear. The following are the combinations of gears I tested with:

• Astell & Kern Kann Cube
• Sony NW-ZX507
• Astell & Kern SR25
• Samsung Galaxy S10e
• iFi Zen Dac + F. Audio AM01
• Schiit Bifrost 2 + Schiit Jotunheim

Sound Impressions
The Valkyrie is undoubtedly a V-Shaped IEM with powerful bass and elevated treble. There is no denying that at all. But can I change my perception of V-shaped IEMs? That's hard to say. Most of the time, I can't stand this sound signature because typically the bass is overbearing to the point that it becomes muddy and bloated, and then the treble has such a large rise that it becomes overly shrill and sibilant.

In the case of the Valkyrie, I find the bass to sound really nice to be honest, but the treble is just beyond my breaking point in many types of music I enjoy.



When I first put these things on and strapped on some EDM music, my first initial reaction was, wow I feel like I am at a rave again, something I haven't personally gone to in at least 6 years. Boombastic bass and shrilly treble that made my ears want to bleed. But it's kind of fun too, like a guilty pleasure in some ways.

But, I took them off. And then I tried them on again, with different music. This time some indie rock and bluegrass -- my staple of Civil Wars, Chvrches and Alison Krauss. Chvrches' music had great thundering bass, but with so much emphasis in upper frequencies on their songs, I was a little fatigued right off the bat. With Alison Krauss and Civil Wars, I had a very forward sense due to the amount of string instruments and female vocals at play. Unfortunately with these types of music, I find that the female singers do sound a bit too shrill and too unnaturally bright.

So I removed them from my ears again. Disappointed and wanting to write them off again.

And then I decided, let's try rock music. Playing "Rooster" by Alice n Chains, I found that the V-shaped signature does wonders here with emphasis on the low end bass and metal guitars. Playing Radiohead however was a slightly more mixed bag, since again, I found the treble region to be just a tad too much, and was left with more fatigue.

I took a day off from the Valkyrie. And then slapped them on with rap music. I flipped my Sony ZX507 to Common's Be record, and instantly enjoyed this from start to finish with the Valkyrie. There's not a lot of upper range on this album except the occasional distorted female vocals like in "Testify" or the harmonics of drums, but for the most part, this album plays it simple and with the elevated low end and pinna gain, I actually found this to be a winning combination.

I can't say this is necessarily true for all rap music though, as I do find some bands like The Roots with ?uestlove's drumming to sound a little harsh, but in general, I do find it does well with rap and hip hop music for my taste, and also for the most part electronic dance music, as long as it's recorded pretty well.





Wrap-Up
I really didn't go into a very thoughtful and concise description of my sound impressions on this review as I typically do, but that's because my experience with the Valkyrie is just that way, not typical. I don't know if I really like it -- actually I know I don't really like it, at least not enough for me to purchase it myself, but I definitely see the appeal of this set. It has a fun sound. It's a guilty pleasure, and it has technical chops to carry a sound signature I usually think of Beats or something first.

But the Valkyrie please it well, and there's no bass bloat and no muddy sound for the most part. At least not to the level of my typical expectations of a V-Shaped sound signature. It doesn't do every genre right, and in fact, I can't stand it for most of my normal everyday music, but it does take me back to a younger self where my music tastes were more aligned with stuff that suit this IEM more so than my current everyday listening.

Take these impressions as however you like. I think it's a very pretty and stunning IEM, with a sound signature that isn't for everyone, including myself, but I definitely can see people enjoying this one. For me, I need to the try the Legend X for a guilty pleasure IEM (i.e. bass but less treble).

Note: All listening was done through foobar2000 on Windows 10 routed through an iBasso DX200 (Amp 1) functioning as a USB DAC.

Presentation:

The Valkyrie's signature is subtly but distinctly V-shaped (V for Valkyrie, obviously). The bass and treble are forward of the mids, but they don't drown them out. The tonality leans towards neutral rather than natural, but (with a few exceptions) there's palpable texture throughout the presentation. However, this seems to come at the expense of apparent detail and coherence: the Valkyrie can sometimes lose focus as more and more instruments are added to a mix, and the bass, mid, and treble each have a very distinct reproduction, which doesn't lend well to a cohesive sound. That said, if the Valkyrie isn't always the most resolving, it's still very detailed, engaging, and refined.

Bass:

The Valkyrie's bass is immensely powerful, but despite this, it's poised and balanced, and presents plenty of flexibility and dynamic range. No, it never steps out of the way entirely, but there's still quite a difference between the Valkyrie when it's restrained and the Valkyrie when it's let loose. And when it's let loose, boy does it have something to show. The Weapon IX dynamic can push some serious air, and it seems to enjoy doing so, but it always feels perfectly in control, with snappy decay, and—at least in the Valkyrie's case—enough texture and detail to hear the woodiness of a double bass or the turbulence of a kick drum. The bass is superbly extended and balanced: I detect no difference in volume between sub-bass and mid-bass. However, while solitary basslines are handled with aplomb even if they're quick or complicated, the Valkyrie often has trouble separating overlapping basslines and in such situations can end up muddy.

The Valkyrie's bass is also peculiar in that it doesn't make itself felt as much as heard—to the extent that you can clearly hear the bass coming from the earphones as opposed to in or around your body—and this leads to some unique effects. On the one hand, the bass never colors the overall presentation. Even if it's the loudest, most forward part of a mix, it rarely conceals, and never tinges, the higher frequencies. On the other hand, there's little impact or rumble: the attack is clean, and you can hear down into the depths of hell, but you never get kicked in the ribs or shaken to your soul. This limits fatigue, but it also limits excitement. Dance tracks were puzzling to listen to through the Valkyrie because the basslines were so prominent and yet somewhat lifeless. I felt like I should have been inspired into a frenzy of footwork, but I wasn't even lifted from my chair.

Perhaps I can summarize by saying that the Valkyrie's bass performance is engaging rather than fun. It's big and solid, speedy but not ephemeral, and has plenty of detail, all of which make it a joy to listen to but do not create the primal, chthonic experience you might otherwise expect from its sheer volume. EDM fans beware! (But everybody else rejoice!)

Mids:

The Valkyrie's mid presentation is highly track-dependent, both in terms of quality and positioning. I'd say their primary characteristic is transparency. They're most comfortable taking a (close) backseat to the bass and treble, but they will come forward when asked, and vocals in particular aren't afraid to take the focus. When they do so, however, they feel a little strained and lose some detail, as if somebody EQ'd them just past what the driver could handle. But honestly, it's usually not that noticeable, and I at least prefer this approach to mids which are perfectly rendered but inaudible.

The mids are also by far the most resolving segment of the Valkyrie's performance. Especially when they're on their own or sparsely accompanied, the detail, separation, and speed are excellent. Transient response in particular is among the best I've heard, and timbre is quite good as well, at least with quality recordings. However, because the mids are set back in the mix, none of this is obvious: it only becomes apparent when you pay particular attention to it, and sometimes not even then if the treble or bass are too busy.

In general, the Valkyrie has a better time with instruments than with vocals: clarinets, guitars, pianos, etc. all sound highly detailed and realistic, while voices (both male and female) come across a little flatter and less nuanced, even when they have appropriate body and volume (which is most of the time). The vocal presentation is generally faithful: no artificial chestiness or wispiness, passable dynamic range, but not much in the way of micro-detail or texture. That said, I think it's well more than adequate if utmost vocal realism is a secondary concern for you.

Put simply: if you like a well executed V-signature, the Valkyrie's mids are just dandy, but if you aren't a fan, the Valkyrie probably won't change your mind, even though it's more balanced and refined than most.

Treble:

The Valkyrie's treble is a little rough around the edges. In typical EST fashion, it's present and clear without being piercing, but it's not very forgiving either. Sibilance is noticeable, especially with poor recordings, and cymbals and snare drums can be a little too insistent. Trumpets and flutes sound great for the most part but often lack body and resonance as they ascend into their upper registers. The Valkyrie's treble overall has a slightly thin and brittle quality: it's not offensive by any stretch of the imagination, especially considering I'm particularly sensitive, but I always find myself wishing the treble had a little more roundness and shimmer. Treble extension is excellent, and for the most part the treble manages to make itself heard without dominating, erring on the side of getting lost rather than stabbing through a dense mix. However, I have heard monitors, such as the Unique Melody MEST, that find a happy medium between the two that the Valkyrie can't quite match.

Separation, however, is the biggest problem with the Valkyrie's treble. When there's too much going on in the bass for the Valkyrie to parse, it becomes muddy, but that's not so bad because you just accept that there's a vague mass of bass on top of which everything else can float. When there's too much going on in the treble, on the other hand, everything starts colliding in a much more obvious manner. Each triangle hit competes with each cymbal tap competes with each synth note, and the result isn't pretty. It never becomes strident or sharp, but it's impossible to follow and does become very distracting.

This taken into account, for the most part the treble is well balanced against the mids and the bass, and takes advantage of the capability of the EST driver to maintain a present treble that isn't brazen or obnoxious. It's so close to excellence; it just needs to sort out complicated, intricate passages a little better than it does.

Soundstage/Imaging:

Weirdly enough, the Valkyrie's soundstage is problematically short. It's not expansive, but it's wide and deep enough that you'd expect it to have plenty of space; but, because everything gets squashed onto one plane, instruments run into each other a little too often. If the track is really dense, the Valkyrie can get away with it; but if the track is at all scattered or spread out, the Valkyrie quickly becomes flummoxed. As a result, imaging is fairly mediocre and there is very little air to the presentation. However, when there are few instruments competing for space, the Valkyrie does position them well, taking full advantage of its commendable depth.

Build/Fit:

The Valkyrie is surprisingly diminutive, and the included Final Audio Type E tips are excellent as always and come in the full range of sizes from XS to XL. I don't think anybody should have an issue getting these to fit comfortably. The construction feels solid, and the exclusive Dragonhide faceplate is a real sight. 10/10 from this reviewer.

Comparisons:

Comparisons to the Empire Ears Phantom, Unique Melody MEST, Campfire Audio Solaris 2020, and AAW Mockingbird are coming soon!

Conclusion:

The Valkyrie sounds like a reference monitor on nitrous. Its bass is confidently powerful, its mids won't be bullied into submission either, and its treble is dry and clear. Its detail retrieval is top-notch and it's blisteringly quick all across the spectrum. But the bass doesn't make itself felt, the mids aren't entirely comfortable if brought to the fore, the treble is scattered, and the three characters don't always integrate well. If you're looking for a monitor to hooligan around with or listen critically, or if you're a vocalhead, I would look elsewhere. But in my opinion, the Valkyrie is just about ideal for casual listening to anything that doesn't involve upwards of seven or eight instruments playing at the same time, especially with that magic bass that's so huge without ever being dominant or fatiguing.

I give the Valkyrie 3.5 stars not to say it's mediocre by any means, but to warn my reader that its appeal will be narrow. The Valkyrie offers a very particular and unique signature that won't be for everyone, but if you think it might be for you, I strongly encourage you to give the Valkyrie a ride, because I've never heard anything quite like it.

Introduction

Empire Ears is one of the few, US brands that caters to the hi-fi IEM market. In this niche, most brands tend to do one of two things: Play it safely or go wild with their tunings. Empire Ears happens to fall into the latter category, and it’s done so to a surprising degree of success. To this effect, the Valkyrie is their latest tri-hybrid IEM. It utilizes a DD for the lows, a BA for the mids, and an EST for the highs. The Valkyrie is a wild-ride of an IEM that certainly won’t be for everyone, but is stellar for those it appeals to. Let’s talk about why.



The Tangibles

I’ll mostly let the photos speak for themselves. Empire Ears really knocked it out of the ballpark here, and I love the accessories and overall presentation.

• Good build quality on the Valkyrie itself. The faceplate artwork is phenomenal, and it’s clear a lot of attention and detail went into it.
• Some driver flex when inserting the IEM, it’s loud. Once it’s in, it’s not an issue luckily.
• The aluminum case is super-sound and has a level of quality I’ve yet to see with other brands. I’m seriously considering purchasing one stand-alone for myself.
• Effect Audio Eros II cable

Sound Analysis

Please see here for a full-breakdown of my testing methodology, music preferences and more.

The Valkyrie’s frequency response is characterized by an aggressive V-shape; starting from the low-end, the Valkyrie brings its best to the table. It’s sub-bass centric with excellent extension and the most drawn-out decay I’ve heard of any IEM. You can absolutely hear the subwoofer rumble, the texture is all there. To this effect, I’d consider it visceral, a word I’ve refrained from using in my reviews thus far. No, seriously. Anything EDM or pop, particularly female-vocal stuff, flies real well with the Valkyrie.

Despite making my inner-basshead jump for joy, it’s not all sunshine and daisies. The mid-bass is likewise boosted, but the attack is lacking some bite and takes what I can only describe as a rounded edge. The aforementioned decay also leads to time-domain overlap; it simply lags behind too much. Thus, I find that there is a lack of coherency to the Valkyrie’s low end versus the midrange and treble.

But the midrange also leaves something to be desired. It’s seriously thin, and it especially struggles with male vocals; take for example Blake Shelton, who sounds strained on the Valkyrie. Forget genres like country music with the Valkyrie. That said, things pick back up with female vocals. Some stuff like Taeyeon’s “I” when she hits her high notes are pushing it, but they’re serviceable enough. Moving along to the treble – it’s actually there! Empire Ears has managed to properly implement an EST. Good stick impact and a very slight roll-off, the highs are pretty crisp. They’re also quite elevated, and as a result the Valkyrie has a bright, energetic timbre.

Let’s talk technicalities because the Valkyrie is surprisingly competent given its tonal balance.

• There is some timbral coloration; I wouldn’t call it bad at all though, and it gives the Valkyrie a pleasant, musical warmth.
• Soundstage is decidedly average, bordering on somewhat closed-in. Thus, there is a sense of intimacy that compliments the aggressive presentation. No issues with imaging.
• In pure speed, I’d say the Valkyrie is on the faster side sans the bass response which tends to lag behind (mostly in the sub-bass) as I noted earlier.
• Resolution and detail retrieval are good, but not what I would consider class-leading. In this regard, the Valkyrie clearly falls behind some of the established giants like the 64audio U12t and Sony IER-Z1R. The Valkyrie’s still a “baby flagship” after all.

Most of all, I find that the Valkyrie has that elusive engagement factor in spades. At least for the stuff it plays well with, from the warm, timbral coloration to the intimate soundstage, this thing knows how to put on a show. And frankly, it’s intoxicating. Even going back to my 64audio U12t, which is objectively the better performer, left me wanting something more. Go ahead – call me a dirty basshead. But this is something that I can’t say I’ve found with most IEMs.

The Verdict

When I was a kid, my dad would sometimes take me out for a ride in his sports car. And well, let’s just say he’d push the speed limit a little – OK, a lot – on some curvy streets for fun. I mostly just remember clutching my knees and being shell-shocked, but always knowing that he was still at the wheel. Likewise, the Valkyrie is toeing the line with its tonal balance. And yet, I do think that it manages to just barely stay in control due to its surprisingly strong technical chops.

Let’s be real, this is a niche IEM. The Valkyrie is not a good all-arounder; however, it stands that there is no perfect IEM. And in this vein, I can see the Valkyrie being a great piece to round out an IEM collection or being for someone who wants an engaging, edge-of-your-seat IEM. Empire Ears clearly had an artistic vision when they set out to make the Valkyrie, and I’d say they mostly succeeded. Above all, given Empire Ear’s often less-than-conventional tunings, this is the stuff that gets me excited to see what they can put out – consider me impressed.

I am in a place that I have never been before and I am not sure if I belong; scared but intrigued at the same time. The Empire Ears gear tour on head-fi has been an eye opening experience for me on so many levels. I want to thank @Barra and Empire Ears for this tour and allowing me to take part in it.

My experience with gear of this price point is very limited. On my YouTube channel I have reviewed a couple of iFi Audio dac/amps over 1k in price. Majority of my listening of gear over 1k has been limited to Axpona and audio meets. I have only heard Empire Audio products once before and that was the Legend X at Axpona. The most expensive IEM I own is the ADV M5-1D which cost $400. So needless to say, I have nothing of significance to compare the Empire Ears to in either my personal gear or from listening experiences.

I am not good with explaining technology so I will let Empire Ears do it for you:
https://empireears.com/products/valkyrie-custom

With all that being said, here is my attempt at reviewing the Empire Ears Valkyrie.

Packaging and Presentation:

The presentation when you open the box is just phenomenal after you remove the outer sleeve. The small jewelry box opens up to reveal a slip cover envelope that contains some warranty paperwork, a cleaning cloth and a cleaning tool. Below that the Valkyrie sit glistening with the green,blue and orange faceplate staring up at you. Attached to the Valkyrie you will find the Effect Audio Eros II cable. Opening up the drawer you will locate the arrangement of Final E type silicone tips fitted into an aluminum carry tray. Also included is a Pandora carry case that is heavy duty.

All in all, I find that the presentation is top notch and even though the included accessories are limited in quantity, they are not limited in quality.

Build and Design:

Everything that is included with the Valkyrie from the box, the accessories and the IEM are built with incredible craftsmanship. The Pandora carry case is heavy, thick and solid but is so smooth to screw together; the padding inside is well thought out and placed so that it doesn’t allow the Valkyrie to slip around but yet doesn’t hold them too tight. The tip carry tray is similar to the one provided by RHA with the T20. The edges of the carry tray are smooth and the cutouts for the tips are the perfect size. The Effect Audio Eros II cable is the nicest IEM cable I have held in my hand. Tangle free, light but durable, perfect amount of tension on the ear hooks and beautiful to look at. The Valkyrie themselves are masterpieces; the faceplate glistens in the light and changes tones depending on the angle. The shape of the shell is small and light. The universal fit shows off the expertise that Empire Ears have mastered over the years.
Overall, the build and design is magnificent and Empire Ears has created an IEM that is gorgeous to behold.

Fit and Comfort:

The Empire Ears Valkyrie is one of more comfortable universal IEM I have had the pleasure of using. The curves and angles of the shell fit my ears perfectly; the nozzle length is long enough for me to be able to adequately fit in my ear canal and not have them slipping around when using the medium Final E tips. I have listened to the Valkyrie for 8 hours at a time without any pain or discomfort. Getting the right tip size does matter and will greatly impact the sound if you have too loose of a fit and seal.

I do not see the fit and comfort being an issue for most listeners. These are one of the most comfortable IEM I have used.

With all that out of the way, let's get to the meat and potatoes of the review.

Sound:

The Empire Ears Valkyrie are a tribrid design featuring a dynamic, balanced armature and electrostat driver.

Technical Specifications
3 Proprietary Drivers, Tribrid Design

1 W9 Subwoofer, 1 Mid, 1 EST High

EIVEC - Empire Intelligent Variable Electrostatic Control

4-Way synX Crossover System

A.R.C. Resonance Mitigation Technology

Impedance: 3 ohms @ 1kHz

Frequency Response: 4 Hz - 100kHz

Sensitivity: 96dB @ 1kHz, 1mW
Bass Port Flex:

There is a little bit of bass port flex when inserting the Valkyrie into your ear. This is normal and nothing to be concerned over. I found that once the Valkyrie is properly seated the flexing is no longer audible.

Cable noise:

There is a little bit of cable noise when there is no music flowing but it is very minimal even then.

Isolation:

Outside noises are isolated fairly well, I can still hear my keyboard clicks lightly in the background but I have no complaints.

Bass:

I personally like a more linear bass that has great extension and detail but at times I have been known to enjoy a bassy IEM or two. The Valkyrie takes bass to another level for me; it is intoxicating and addictive. The Valkyrie has a bass that is not fatiguing at all but at the same it is bombastic and thunderous. When listening to the Valkyrie it has a way of grabbing you and immersing you in the moment; if your foot wasn’t tapping it will be very soon; you’ll also experience moments of random standing up and dancing. I found myself on numerous occasions playing air guitar or dancing around like a fool in my office by myself while listening to the Valkyrie.

The Weapon IX (W9) dynamic subwoofer is only 9mm but holy moly does it pack a punch. The sub bass reaches far and deep with control; there is not a hint of distortion. The details are resolved fast and smooth and have a bold body. The impact and punch is felt throughout but as you climb towards the mids the body leans out just a bit. No matter the song I am listening to the bass impresses me each time.

Mids:

The Valkyrie are a v-shape that plays like an aggressive v-shape at times and then plays like a mild v-shape at other times. The mids are somewhat of a mixed bag of emotions for me. My personal preference is for the vocals and mids to be balanced or mid forward signature; I am not much of a fan of mids on most v-shape headphones and IEM’s but the Valkyrie has changed my mind, kinda. The mids on the Valkyrie are like eating Sour Patch Kids candy. They have nice body and texture and on some songs are sweet and then on the next will be sour. Please let me explain or at least let me try to dig myself out of this hole. The lower mids are leaner and thinner than the middle and upper mids. The “sour” is the lower mids where vocals, string instruments and pianos are the most impacted; male vocals do not seem to have as much body and character as females. Lower register string instruments do not have the enveloped sound that makes them sound big and robust and pianos lack the impact of key strikes; this leaves the Valkyrie sounding thin in the lower mids. The “sweet” is the main mids region which has a great body and a push to the forefront. Then as you get into the upper mids there is climb into the “sweet and sour” where at times the Valkyrie can be assertive and hot on some songs. Details are resolved with great speed and accuracy. The tonality and timbre throughout the mids is spectacular, every instrument sounds natural and vocals sound life like. Unfortunately, female vocals and acoustical instruments like guitars and banjos stand a little too far forward in the mix and can dominate in an assertive and hot way at times. Also, bass guitars lack body and grit electric guitars have a little too much bite and energy on some tracks. If it wasn’t for that leaner lower mid and upper mid glare and shout the Valkyrie mids would be fantastic for me but sadly they are just above average. Overall, the mids are well done and are my favorite v-shape that I have heard on an IEM.

Treble:

The Valkyrie has an impressive treble to bless your ears. I love a well extended treble with details that are resolved and smooth. The Valkyrie doesn’t disappoint with the treble at all. I love how it extends and has energy and air to keep you engaged. It isn’t too much or too little, the Valkyrie treble is “pleasantness” to a “P”. It all flows cohesively and has a weight to it but never lacks air. All I can say is that I enjoy the treble on the Valkyrie and it is one of my favorite trebles of all time on an IEM,

Soundstage/Imaging:

When I was in college I attended lots of orchestra concerts and operas. I alway liked to sit towards the front and be able to see the orchestra pit and feel the singers power as they bellowed out across the stage. The Valkyrie is like sitting in the front row behind the orchestra pit or in the mosh pit. The Weapon IX subwoofer is like a subwoofer front and center on stage with it’s controlled power and authority. The soundstage is on the smaller and intimate side but you get all the details of the action on the stage. The Valkyrie has an engaging and immersive soundstage that wows me each and every time I listen to it. The insane depth and layering of the details make my imagination run wild as I close my eyes and envision where all the musicians and vocals are on the stage. Spatial awareness is one of the best around. Every once in a while the stage will feel a bit closed in and the spacing and separation of instruments will feel snug but that is only on mega busy tracks and I found that to be few and far in my music library.




Comparisons:

Well as I said in my introduction I do not have much to compare the Empire Ears Valkyrie with but I will offer a few thoughts on my current favorite IEM’s.

Meze Rai Solo:

The Rai Solo has a brighter more airy sound then the Valkyrie. The bass doesn’t extend as far and wide nor does it have the impact and punch that the Valkyrie throws at you. The mids on the Meze are more even and balanced but lack a little in resolution. The upper mids and lower treble are better controlled on the Meze and are not assertive like the Valkyrie yet they offer energy. Soundstage is wider on the Meze but it lacks the immersive depth and layering of the Valkyrie. Build and comfort is top notch on the Meze and I would have a hard time deciding between the two which I prefer. Overall, the Meze Rai Solo brings a lot to the table for the price but when compared to an IEM that is 6x the price the difference is noticeable.

ADV M5-1D:

The ADV M5-1D beryllium driver shows off some impressive bass prowess but it even lacks when compared to the Valkyrie. The M5-1D has a deep and detailed bass that seems a tad slower in decay. Mids are more even and balanced then the Valkyrie but do not resolve as well. The treble has a bit more energy on the top end. The soundstage is larger on the ADV and the placement is on par with the Valkyrie; the ADV is a small step back when it comes to depth and layering. Build is excellent on the M5-1D but the Valkyrie feels more premium. Fit is more comfortable on the Valkyrie. This is a closer comparison then the Meze for sure but the Valkyrie still reigns supreme.

Empire Ears Wraith:

The Valkyrie has bombastic, thunderous bass compared to the lighter, detailed approach of the Wraith. The mids are uneven and have upper mid assertiveness on the Valkyrie compared to the even and balanced less assertive upper mid on the Wraith. Treble is more extended and forward on the Valkyrie compared to the light, airy and laid back approach of the Wraith. Soundstage of the Valkyrie is more on the intimate front row of the stage with a subwoofer directly in front of you whereas the Wraith is front row of the balcony where you can see the whole stage and hear each and every detail.

YouTube review:



Gear:

iFi Audio Pro iDSD
Monoprice Monolith THX AAA 788
Pioneer XDP-30r
Sony Walkman NW-A105
Shanling M2x
Shanling Q1

Sources:

Tidal
Deezer
Foobar (local dsd and flac)

Songs:

https://tidal.com/browse/track/128215119 Sinne Eeg “We’ve Just Begun” - multiple layer soundstage

https://tidal.com/browse/track/77568002 Molly Johnson “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” - female vocal tone

https://tidal.com/browse/track/120190149 Leslie Odom Jr. “Under Pressure” - male vocal tone

https://tidal.com/browse/track/230625 Eric Clapton “Change the World” - soundstage layering and placement

https://tidal.com/browse/track/18016422 Yo Yo Ma “Ecstasy of Gold” - acoustic instrument timbre

https://tidal.com/browse/track/103401770 Adam Baldych “Spem in Alium” - acoustic instrument timbre

https://tidal.com/browse/track/31759874 Tingvall Trio “Beat” - piano tonality


https://tidal.com/browse/track/52532480 Pain of Salvation “Stress” - percussion balance

https://tidal.com/browse/track/98069001 Michael Buble “When I Fall in Love” - orchestral dynamics

https://tidal.com/browse/track/41094997 Patricia Barber “Code Cool” - sibilance check
Christian Scott “New New Orleans” - shouty upper mids

https://tidal.com/browse/track/116415078 Tool “Chocolate Chip Trip” - imaging

https://tidal.com/browse/track/1855831 Hans Zimmer “Why So Serious” - sub bass extension

https://tidal.com/browse/track/89386285 Marcus Miller “No Limit” - bass control

https://tidal.com/browse/track/77646106 Dave Holland Quartet “Conference Of The Birds”- bass check

https://tidal.com/browse/track/132139860 Ilhan Eshkeri “47 Ronin”- orchestra and bass dynamics

https://tidal.com/browse/track/79530261 Hans Zimmer “2049” - sub bass extension

https://tidal.com/browse/track/36764745 Queen “Somebody to Love” - dynamics, sharpness and transients

https://tidal.com/browse/track/114330493 Tool “Ticks & Leeches” - dynamics, sharpness and transients

https://tidal.com/browse/track/63345703 Galactic “Doomed” - sub bass extension

https://tidal.com/browse/track/3468730 Bela Fleck & The Flecktones “Flight Of The Cosmic Hippo” - sub bass extension

https://tidal.com/browse/track/118552925 Motley Crue “Dr. Feelgood” harshness and shouty

https://tidal.com/browse/track/55391456 Pink Floyd “Young Lust” - mid bass and soundstage

https://tidal.com/browse/track/72947822 Shawn Mendes “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” - forwardness

https://tidal.com/browse/track/85963727 Alexander Desplat “Ïsle Of Dogs: Toshiro” - dynamics

https://tidal.com/browse/track/107749134 Marina “No More Suckers”- sibilance

https://tidal.com/browse/track/75202408 Tauren Wells “Known” - male vocals and micro dynamics

https://tidal.com/browse/track/86330323 Kacey Musgraves “Wonder Woman” - female vocals

https://tidal.com/browse/track/84340438 Dennis Lloyd “Nevermind (Wankelmut Remix)” - soundstage





Playlists:
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/3e4a5ae5-cde5-40fa-bbaa-4e432fe79e3e

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/0ba4d6a8-9d95-4f16-b79e-ef084a091d73

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/c5bc66bd-a907-4a0e-a976-9f02e75c126f

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/0e3aa4a1-ba36-44fe-aabb-d8976dc8a908

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/9e6568e7-8bdd-4ddd-964c-f5453d8761e8

https://www.deezer.com/playlist/744...utm_term=3243482124_1585500966&utm_medium=web

https://www.deezer.com/playlist/744...utm_term=3243482124_1585501023&utm_medium=web

https://www.deezer.com/playlist/744...utm_term=3243482124_1585502653&utm_medium=web

Disclaimer: I paid full price for my pair of custom Valkyries and have a great relationship with the guys over at Empire Ears. I will do my best to not let this bias affect how I write the sound portion of the review.

Introduction to the Valkyrie



For a quick rundown, the Valkyrie is a 3-driver IEM consisting of one dynamic (Empire's proprietary W9 subwoofer), one balanced armature and one electrostatic driver. They retail for 1599 USD and come stock with a 2-pin Effect Audio Eros II. For this review I have the Eros II terminated in 2.5mm balanced hooked up to a Fiio X7 with the AM3 module.

On paper, the Valkyrie is a product that I would never want to buy. I mean, just looking at its frequency response graph intimidates me. It's a huge V-shaped, colorful sounding IEM that should scare off anyone with the words "neutral" and "balance" in mind. But I'm glad I gave them a chance because when I first heard the Valkyrie, I finally understood what people meant when they described audio as "intoxicating".

What's in the box?

I'm pretty indifferent when it comes to accessories and unboxing experience but Empire Ears keeps it slick and simple. I no longer have the packaging with me so I have no photos.

The Valkyrie come in a black magnetic flip box with custom cut foam to fit the monitors and accessories. The IEMs can be found neatly wrapped inside of Empire's Pandora case which is a CNC'd metal jar that comes in your choice of text engraving on the lid. As well, you get a card of authenticity, a basic usage manual, some stickers, an earwax pick/brush tool and a microfiber cloth.

I will say that the Pandora case does create a high-pitched squeaking sound when you unscrew the lid due to metal on metal contact which can be quite irritating though some light lubrication would fix this.

The stock Eros II pairs very well with the Valkyrie. The inclusion of a premium cable was a reassuring sign that Empire Ears understands the audiophile community. If they just wanted offer a quality cable, they could have simply given us an Ares II which come with a few of Empire's other IEMs. But they specifically chose one that has audible synergy with the monitors themselves and as someone who doesn't have the opportunity to listen to many different cables, I appreciate that. Even if you don't believe cables make an audible difference, at the end of the day they still went out of their way to give you a more expensive one.



Sound

Despite what some may consider to be a lower driver count in comparison to other IEMs in its price range, the Valkyrie punches above its weight and provides great value within EE's lineup. The bass is nothing short of entrancing and the estat works wonders to deliver an exciting treble response. I think it's really important to note that while it appears to be incredibly imbalanced, the Valkyrie's overall tuning seems to level things out quite well to create a unique tone.

Lows
The Valkyrie has the most addictive bass I have ever heard in an IEM. I am far from being a bass head but as soon as I tried the Valkyrie, I was immediately sucked in by the thunderous power of the W9 subwoofer as expected. Even with just one per side, they deliver an impactful rumble, extending deep into the low end creating a very full experience that is not only heard but felt. And while it is a dynamic driver, it retains decent speed along with great precision and control, throwing out a tight punch when called for. All this without being overly warm, providing notable texture and great detail. Due to the sheer quantity, you do lose out on some nuance and speed, but I've found it to be quite acceptable. Also important to note is that there are 3 small holes on each side that act as vents for the DD, eliminating fatigue in exchange for less isolation. The bass is likely the first thing you'll notice and it may be overwhelming if you aren't used to DDs in your IEMs. But if you like bass, give it some time and you'll be hooked.

Mids
While the bass is very much in your face, it doesn't dominate the midrange. Mids are on the lighter side for sure but I've never felt it to be recessed—they're just not in the spotlight. The dip in the lower midrange is exaggerated even further by the powerful low end and sparkly highs but it's actually tuned quite well, remaining clear and articulate. However once you get past 1kHz things start to come forward once again with very smooth upper mids. When it all comes together it creates a coherent tuning that supports the experience that the Valkyrie seeks to create. The tonal balance is fantastic and doesn't seem to bother me at all. It took a little bit of listening time but I eventually found my way back to enjoying the mids, particularly the smooth upper mids.

Highs
The Valkryie makes great use of its electrostatic driver creating a wonderful contrast to the bass without overpowering the mids. Highs are quick and full of energy with a good amount of air, strong presence and great extension providing excellent clarity and detail. I would consider myself to be sensitive to sibilance but I don't find the highs to be too aggressive, especially considering that I am using a brighter source. It is quite natural in its detail, not sounding overly analytical or dry. Certain frequencies do sound a tiny bit thin as the Valkyrie prioritizes speed and clarity over warmth.

Soundstage
The soundstage is a bit more intimate than my usual preferences but that's not to say I dislike it. While not too wide, the Valkyrie goes deep with its layering and is quite precise in its imaging. Instruments of the lower end have a forward presence without dominating the rest of the spectrum. Lower mids are quieter but present. Vocals aren't too distant but male vocals are a little thin. Female vocals on the other hand are lightly colored, sounding rich and emotive. There's a great amount of room for sound to move without being holographic. Overall there is great separation and I am able to easily focus onto any range I want.

I'm really bad with analogies but it reminds me of the time I saw Metallica at the Toronto Opera House in 2016 with an audience of only a few hundred people. I wasn't right up front in the mosh pit but not on the balcony either. I was kind of in the center of this little opera stage with a band who loves to play loud and heavy. I couldn't even begin to put into words what that energy felt like—there's no experience quite like it, but the Valkyrie comes close.


Taken during the intro of Fade to Black. You can find an official recording on YouTube, "Metallica: Fade to Black (Toronto, Canada - November 29, 2016)"

I know the V on the graph LOOKS sharp but overall I find it to be a well-tuned and surprisingly balanced IEM with everything working together to create a very fun and engaging sound.

"Mini Legend-X"

I don't have a lot of listening time with the LX so I'm not very confident but I'll do my best to give my thoughts on one of the most popular comparisons and why I chose the Valkyrie. For the record, I heard the LX first, before the Valkyrie was released.

The LX and Valkyrie have similarities in traits but overall sound quite different from each other—they both share the V-shape sound signature, but each execute it differently. LX's V is smoother with a fuller, more powerful low end due to having two W9s. The Valkyrie's punch is a little harder, faster, and more precise. Like I said I'm not really a bass head so the faster and tighter response of the single W9 driver does the job very well for me. They both extend quite deep, but again with the dual W9s I think the LX goes a little deeper.

LX's mids are a bit warmer just as its overall sound signature is. It is richer, and has a more natural timbre. But the Valkyrie's smoother and more forward upper mids is the primary reason why I chose it over the LX. The Valkyrie does color its vocals a bit, presenting a more emotional feeling which works better in my opinion for this type of tuning.

LX is the more technical IEM for sure with higher resolution and larger soundstage but the Valkyrie does come close and keeps up well considering the price difference. The Valkyrie is quicker with more energy in its highs while the LX is a bit darker and laid back, having a more natural decay in its sound. I think the LX extends higher too. Overall the LX is relaxing while the Valkyrie is exciting, both offering incredible bass response and technical capability.

Value

I truly believe the Valkyrie has the best value in Empire's lineup and hold their own against the Legend-X. Of course the LX has more drivers in its configuration but hearing the Valkyrie was confirmation that less can be more. Around the time just before my Valkyrie purchase, I was shopping around ready to buy a flagship with the flagship price tag. I now have flagship performance for a fraction of the price in the Valkyrie.

Ordering Process & Customer Experience

This is gonna be a long one. I have a terrible history with IEMs. Universals simply don't fit, and getting customs has not been easy. I have had impressions done by just about every musician specialized audiologist in Toronto and I have never once had a perfect fit. So it was very important to me that I was able to communicate well with EE's customer support, and after meeting some of the guys that work there it's easy to see why Empire has so many fans.

I first tried the Valkyrie at the Headfoneshop here in Toronto and was put in touch with Austin immediately. He handled my order directly and I arranged to pick them up in person. I flew down from Canada to Atlanta just to visit Empire Ears and pick up my Valkyries in September of 2019. Austin and the team were very welcoming, I got a tour of the facility and we spent some time hanging out. I also spent hours in the lounge just relaxing and testing out the fit for any issues before I was to fly home.


My Valkyries at the Empire Ears Experience Lounge.

Unfortunately, the first try ended up being THE worst set of impressions I've ever had done. It was like they weren't even a mold of ears. Luckily I was there for a few days so I left them behind for a quick adjustment. Towards the end of my stay, I went back to try them out and things didn't get any better. They gave me the earmold impression back to try on and it wouldn't even go into my ear, just as the IEM wouldn't. So I left the Valkyries there and flew home empty-handed.

I think something like one adjustment and a rebuild later with new impressions, shipping back and forth, I was still having a bad fit. I had even gone to my most trusted audiologist, Dr. Rhonda Martin who works with Drake. This was about the same experience as I've had with previous customs and I was pretty exhausted and stressed at this point. So the solution was to create a mold by casting another pair of custom monitors I have, which also don't quite fit perfectly but far better than any of the attempts we had done. The fit doesn't affect the sound at all, it's just comfort, feeling a little less "full" on the right side.

I eventually picked them up in person at CanJam NYC 2020, so almost 5 months later until I could truly listen to them. But considering I had them rebuilt maybe 3 times? The turnaround was pretty quick each time. They were finished and ready for me during my initial arrival in Atlanta and done on time for Austin to bring to CanJam.

The pair I have now are just as beautifully crafted as any of the previous attempts, they just fit better. I have been informed that I am welcome to send them in for an extra layer of lacquer to help with the fitment on my right side as well. I'm enjoying my time in quarantine right now so that'll have to wait. But in the end, after all that headache and additional money spent, I'd still say it was worth it.

Closing Thoughts

I love how Empire Ears treats their customers and I love how they've tuned the Valkyrie. They managed to take a sound signature that I should hate in theory and create one of my favorite sounding IEMs to date. I could have gone with any IEM that falls within my comfort zone, but it was the Valkyrie that won me over and I couldn't be any happier with my decision. When you look at the characteristics individually, it can be quite intimidating. But when it all comes together you get a truly incredible tone. I think even if you don't like the V-shape sound signature, you should give them a shot. The Valkyrie excels in what it sets out to do, creating a fun and exciting listening experience like no other.

About Me

If you made it to the end, thank you! I'm very new to reviewing audio but I am proud to have published my first attempt. I'm still finding my voice when it comes to structure/writing style and learning how to describe sound with words, so please let me know if anything I said was self-contradicting or didn't make sense. I skipped out on technical details beyond the basics as I don't feel qualified to speak about things like measurements and driver technology. I'm not the most experienced listener so there isn't a science to my methodology—everything is solely based off of what I hear.

As a reference point, here are my tastes and experience since as we all know, sound is subjective. I was previously into playing guitar (currently getting back into it), music production, and worked a year and a half as a professional video editor. I play a lot of competitive shooters and also enjoy listening to pretty much anything that can be considered music BUT I primarily listen to a lot of Japanese pop, rock, and metal. If I had to pick a point of focus for what I look out for, I would say guitar, strings, and female vocals. Typically I prefer IEMs that are strong in detail and resolution, have great imaging and large soundstage, tonally balanced and mostly neutral. Some of my favorite universals that I have tried are the Empire Ears Zeus-XR, 64 Audio U18s, and qdc Anole VX. I am looking to try out the Itsfitlab Fusion, Vision Ears Elysium, Custom Art FIBAE7, and anything from Kumitate Lab. With that said, I'm still surprised that I ended up with a pair of Valkyries and I'd absolutely recommend a listen if you get the chance.

The Most Fun CIEM Ever!



For those that don’t know me, I have been hosting numerous TOTL CIEM and cable tours on Head-Fi in the US for the last several years now including most of the top manufacturers ranging from moderately expensive to very expensive options. This has allowed me and my tour participants access to hear some of the most incredible mobile audiophile equipment in existence. Even in the few years that I have been managing these tours, I have seen significant advances in technologies and performance to the point that it is rare to hear any product at this level that I do not like. They are all different in signature appealing differently to different people, but they are pretty much all very good at this point. While most purchases from my tours are safe purchases, at this price point it is very important to have a way to hear an assortment so that you can dial in your preference and make the correct purchases. Therefore, when I say that the Valkyrie is the most fun CIEM that I have heard, this is based on a significant comparison…as well as my preferences of course.



The Valkyrie has given me a “Sugar Tooth”
What makes the Valkyrie so special and so much fun is the gobs of TOTL audiophile goodness that it offers in both its dynamic bass and electrostatic treble presentation. Hands down, this has the best bass and treble that I have heard for my preferences. While it is not the widest or the most balanced presentation for technically perfect audiophile performance, once you hear this signature, it is very hard to go back to my other vastly more expensive CIEMs as I am addicted to that sugar. While I have better performers like its big brother, the Empire Ears Legend X, moving to the X makes me feel like I have to leave an extremely fun party with all my friends to put on a suit and tie and behave myself quietly at the opera. The whole time at the opera, I am thinking about how I am going to get back to the party. That is the Valkyrie experience.

Valkyrie’s Configuration



As can be seen in the graphic above, the Valkyrie is a three-driver CIEM. It uses one dedicated dynamic Weapon IX subwoofer for the lows - that to my ear is dialed in at about 60 hertz for a colder signature focusing on driving the bigger boom and rumble down under with extraordinary results. The most pedestrian part is the single BA used to drive the mids. Then it uses an electrostatic (EST) driver to offer the best treble I have ever hear in a CIEM other than its other much more expensive sibling, the Wraith which uses 4x EST. While tribrids (use of dynamic, BA, and EST technology in one CIEM) are all the rage now with EST technology abound, I would have to say that Empire Ears implementation is the most striking and satisfying that I have heard. It is the closest to the Stax 009 SQ that I use as the pinnacle to judge all other electrostatic implementations.

From Empire Ears:

“Valkyrie owes much of its energy and impact on the listener to Empire's newest technology, EIVEC, Empire Intelligent Variable Electrostatic Control. Through EIVEC we've managed to bring the three separate driver technologies into perfect harmony. Electrostatic drivers have remarkable capabilities but have a tendency to drown out their dynamic and balanced armature counterparts. Using EIVEC, the EST in Valkyrie delivers a crisp and detailed high end that blends seamlessly with the rest of the sound profile of tight, rich and natural lows from the Weapon IX dynamic subwoofer and lush mids from the balanced armature driver.”

Technical Specifications
For those audiophile geeks out there, here are the official specifications from Empire Ears:



This simplified design is offering all that sugary goodness:



EROS II Cable
While the stock cable is typically an afterthought and quickly replaced, this is not the case on the Valkyrie. After a bit of cable rolling, I found that this was the best pairing imaginable which is quite the statement given my assortment of very high-end cables that I compared it to. On closer inspection, this is not just a very pretty cable, it is actually a fairly expensive premium audiophile cable made by Effect Audio with a market price starting at just under $300. Even more important, this is a hybrid cable with separate strands of both copper and silver to offer the strengths of both. This is a very premium option from a premium cable manufacturer. No wonder I couldn’t beat this pairing with my other more expensive options. More on this later in my pairing section.



From Empire Ears:

“Every Valkyrie in-ear monitor includes a bespoke, handcrafted Eros II cable by Effect Audio. The Eros II boasts a proprietary blend of 26 AWG UPOCC Litz Copper and UPOCC Pure Silver wire with ultra-flexible insulation for maximum signal speed transmission, performance, and ergonomics. Each cable is terminated in an ultra-durable 3.5mm, 24k Oyaide gold-plated right-angle plug. Alternatively, for our audiophile clientele, we also offer 2.5 and 4.4 balanced terminations at no additional charge.”

Ordering
Empire Ears has a state-of-the-art configurator with lots of impressive options, but I had to go with the exclusive Dragonhide faceplate that offers easy identification of the Valkyrie for anyone that knows it. While it looks great in pictures, it looks even better in the Arizona sun.



Since I already had impressions on file, I was able to speed through to production. The impressions were made by Devon herself at CAMJAM a couple of years back and were used to create my Legend X which came out perfect. I cannot remember, but I do think she had me do the bite block for the Empire Ears impressions when she made them as I think I remember being embarrassed about drooling on myself.

Unboxing
As you can see in my unboxing video below, the Empire Ears unboxing experience is premium. I definitely appreciate the aluminum puck case that comes with the Valkyrie which I had Valkyrie’s name inscribed. The fit is perfect as always with Empire Ears and the build is flawless as expected from such a premium brand.





FIT: The fit offered from Empire Ears is a little more on the smaller side than my other CIEMs providing the most comfortable fit that I have with both the Valkyrie and my existing Legend X. Being on the smaller side, insertion and removal is easier. I would have expected less isolation with the smaller seal, but I have never felt any perceivable difference.



DRIVER FLEX: On the first try, the driver flex can be disconcerting sounding reminiscent of crinkling food packaging. For those that do not know what driver flex is, dynamic drivers under pressure will move to create an audible sound. So, when you put the drivers in your ears, you hear a crinkle that may make you think that something is broken. This is not the case and is something you just get used to over time. It can also happen when you adjust the CIEMs in your ear or pull them out. It may also happen when chewing.

FINISH: The entire Valkyrie experience is premium. The CIEM is flawless, the cable and the case are premium, and the box is so nice that you are forced through guilt to keep it stored rather than throwing it out. There is a solid premium heft to the CIEMs in your hand assuring you that this is no cheap Amazon offering. This is a CIEM that gets attention from your friends.



The Legend X Little Brother
Some people call the Valkyrie the Legend X (LX) little brother due to both having an emphasis on bass. While brothers can share a lot of similar qualities, they can also be extremely different in nature as well as I have experienced with my own two sons.

The LX is the more talented and mature older brother that sits front row and center on the first balcony for a perfect panoramic view of the theater with monstrous audiophile bass and a warmer smoother tone. His little brother is at the front center of the first row in the mosh pit dancing and singing with the band of a smaller venue that is much more intimate. It seems like the LX is crossed at something like 120 hertz (a guess) enhancing all bass for a warmer signature while the Valkyrie has a colder signature crossed at 60 hertz (a guess) with elevated energy-enhancing lower sub-bass more for a tighter, punchier response that doesn't flow so much into the mids. This and the excellent EST offer a colder more exciting tuning that oozes details and transparency. The bass seems like it hits harder on the Valkyrie and is warmer on the LX. Both have their own signature work well together. However, I have to say that the Valkyrie is very addictive. It is like a diet of sweet or salty foods that make normal food seem bland. It is hard to go back to the LX sometimes after listening to the Valkyrie requiring time for your ears to desensitize to enjoy the LX again. The Valkyrie is a much more intimate and exciting signature compared to the LX’s more relaxed and audiophile signature with the LX commanding a much larger soundstage compared to the Valkyries greater depth and layering.

Is the Signature Actually V-Shaped?
The Valkyrie SQ description sounds like a classic V-signature given the huge emphasis on its bass and treble…but is it? I would argue that it is a very balanced intimate signature as there is no dip in the mids. The mids are very intimate, striking, and detailed as they are enhanced/layered by the bass/treble. The problem is that the bass and treble is just so darn good separately that they steal the show giving the illusion of a V. To further emphasize the V illusion, the soundstage is very intimate similar to a V-signature. However, the V-signature tends to be characteristically flat and 2D in my opinion and out of focus due to the distortion created by the over emphasized bass and treble. This is not the case with the Valkyrie which has a stellar 3D staging with significant detail in depth and layering. In Seattle in the Pioneer district, there are a series of clubs that are shaped like bowling lanes with a bar by the door that you have to squeeze by to get to the tables behind that which are in front of a stage toward the back. We used to have some incredible live performances there which were extremely intimate with big talent whose names you would recognize. The music was exciting and intense and in your face. There was always dancing in front of the stage as the music was exciting and got you on your feet. While there was some width on these stages, there was much more depth. These bands didn’t have a V-signature, this was just the shape of the stage. The Valkyrie takes me back to these performances.

Pairing Genres
Given its intimate nature, it is surprising that the Valkyrie is actually very good across most genres. It is the best live monitor I have ever heard and great at EDM as you would imagine. But it is also really great across the newer fresher sounding pop, instrumentals, easy listening, classic rock, and pretty much everything else that I throw at it. Specifically, it is most amazing at live, guitar-focused, or bassy music with incredible texturing and detail. If you would want to sit at the front row of a performance, then the Valkyrie is the right CIEM for you. However, orchestra and opera where you may prefer to sit in the upper balcony to take it all in and enjoy the wider soundstage, the Legend X would be the better choice. Staying with the LX comparable, the exciting Valkyrie signature is better suited for energetic music and air guitar that you want to sing along with where the LX is better for sitting down and soaking in the audiophile details while sipping brandy. Just sayin’….

Driving Power adds Scale
As noted in the technical specifications, the Valkyrie has a 3 ohms impedance and a 96 dB sensitivity. While the low impedance implies that it is easy to drive, the lower sensitivity implies that it is not. The truth is that it is both. While it sounds great on my iPhone, some of the harder-hitting notes can fall short while on my 2-watt desktop Burson Playmate, that extra power not only fills out those notes but adds additional dynamics and texture. Even though I am most impressed on my Burson, I spend most of my time on the iPhone given the daytime on the road preference and I don’t feel like I am missing anything.

Scaling Down: As mentioned, the iPhone is good enough to drive the Valkyrie to audiophile bliss. This is great news for road warriors. However, I should point out a few things:

• Warmup: I find that the iPhone may sputter a bit at first before it is warm which I cannot explain. By sputter, sometimes it feels at first like the bigger bass notes or dynamic or crowded passages are being clipped. After a warmup period on the iPhone, it feels like the Valkyrie is driven better. Please take this into consideration when auditioning a Valkyrie or with underpowered sources, you may not hear it at its best during short impressions.
• DAPs: Stepping up to my dedicated DAPs, the WM1A and Calyx M, I never feel like the Valkyrie is underpowered or there is any clipping. The Valkyrie sounds full and alive. It doesn’t seem to take a lot to have optimal performance on the road from the Valkyrie.
• Cable: As I will explain in the cable section, be careful of your cable choice when scaling down. The excellent stock cable seems to be the way to go when playing with an iPhone.

Scaling Up: While the Valkyrie lacks the enormous soundstage of the LX limiting its scalability a bit, there is a significant amount of additional scale you can get on a great setup. The EST is a top-class implementation that will fully utilize the details if you scale the DAC and the dynamic driver shows its best when you add power. The lower sensitivity allows you to use a broader volume range to dial in the sound without blowing out your ears. Turn up the volume until you feel that the singer and instruments are correctly sized for your preferences and enjoy. While the Wraith and the LX – at a significantly higher cost – shine more in this scaled-up environment, for most, the Valkyrie is more than good enough. Again, the biggest weakness of the Valkyrie is that it doesn’t share the incredibly vast soundstage that Empire Ears is known for in its Zeus, Wraith, and LX models. However, if you like intimate as I do, this is your CIEM.

Hiss: Given the low impedance, I am often asked about hiss. However, I'm probably not the right person to ask about hiss as I am over 50 and cannot hear treble like I used to. Regardless, to my ears, there is no problem with hiss on my WM1a, H2, Calyx M, iPhone, or Burson Playmate at 2 watts. The Valkyrie is surprising black in the background even with its smaller soundstage offering a lot of transparency so I am guessing that the hiss would stand out if there was some. Perhaps the lower sensitivity helps keep the hiss away.

Why are my Ears not Hurting from the Pounding Bass?
While I am not a bass-head, I am an audiophile bass-head. This means that I like quality bass, with realistic quantity only. I dial in my volume by turning it up to the point that the bass instruments are right-sized as I feel that bass instruments are the hardest to get right. To me, a typical audiophile flat signature makes the bass sound small, distant, and unnatural. The Valkyrie and the LX are examples of bass done right with CIEMs offering audiophile goodness with natural-sounding bass. The Valkyrie as mentioned earlier is crossed lower for a cleaner overall sound and turned up to natural sizing that matches the mids and treble. While this allows me to listen to lower volumes that would obviously protect my ears, this is such a fun CIEM that it is hard for me not to keep turning it up to get more of its goodness. So why are my ears not bleeding? Why have I not lost my hearing yet? The same question with my LX as neither the LX or Valkyrie has an acknowledged pressure protection system like the 64 Audio APEX.



On inspection, as seen in the picture above, there is a dynamic driver venting system made of three holes in the side of the shells. For whatever reason, this seems to be enough to stop the bass driver from beating up my eardrums. I have always been aware that many dynamic setups use venting, but even with venting on those, my ears are quickly fatigued…not so with the Valkyrie. While I don’t have any more info to speculate here, I have to say that this is a significant point as I have been spoiled from APEX modules in my other CIEMs that is has kept me away from other more fatiguing designs.

Ear fatigue is not an issue with my custom LX or Valkyrie.

Adjusting to EST Differences
In saying that there is no ear fatigue with the Valkyrie, I do need to mention that the EST drivers do take some getting used to. At first, my ears felt fatigued because the EST signature felt bright. It took 2 days of continual listening to get my head wrapped around the Valkyrie and Wraith EST sound quality. After that, there was no going back. As mentioned earlier, it made my other favorites sound bland in comparison. I was addicted to this EST sound in a way that I knew I needed to own the Valkyrie. The brightness I mentioned was not like any of my truly bright CIEMs that emphasize treble brightness to drive detail, but just a much more significant treble response and extension than I was used to. It was the increased detail that was fatiguing as I had not heard anything like it before. Going back to a BA based treble made me see what I had been missing. Once you hear the EST difference and get used to it, even the best available BA treble just seems inferior.



Optimizing Cables
In the end, the stock hybrid Effect Audio cable that came with the Valkyrie was the best pairing to my ears. It is a surprisingly good cable to be offered as a standard. While experimenting, here is what I found:

• Moon Audio Black Dragon ($200): This is my thickest sounding cable of my collection. This one flattened the signature even more fleshing out the mids and even widened the sound stage a bit while softening the EST treble. The resulting SQ was more like the LX signature. Again, this is not better than the stock cable. While I liked the results, I felt that I was missing some of the Valkyrie magic.
• DITA Audio OLSO ($599): This is a unique oiled copper cable from DITA that really adds to every CIEM that I have paired it with. However, it added a little much with the Valkyrie making the bass too much and created more clipping on lower power sources like my iPhone. It also brought up the treble too much which did change the Valkyrie to more of a V-signature with recessed mids. This is not what I was looking for either.
• Beat Audio Prima Donna 8W ($1199): The Prima Donna is a silver alloy 8 wire cable that has wowed me on all my CIEMs offer a significant clarity and additional dynamics. However, on the Valkyrie, it is just not a great pairing as it added too much treble and it muted the bass. This was a surprise since it was such as great pairing with my warmer LX, but on retrospect, seem obvious now – don’t add more cold to a cold CIEM.
• Effect Audio Eros II ($279): This is a surprisingly good stock cable. As a hybrid, it provides the best of the copper thickness and the silver detail to emphasize all the right characteristics of the CIEM. The resulting SQ is very flat and audiophile with gobs of treble and sub-bass detail providing layering for the mids. I don’t have any other hybrid cables currently to compare apples for apples so Eros II has won a place in my heart and will stay on the Valkyrie.

Scaling Source
While the Valkyrie sounds surprisingly good on everything, there is a difference in results worth discussing. Here is what I found:

• iPhone 6: Amazon HD Music is a new app on my iPhone that has improved my sound quality considerably. From the standard Apple Music app, the Valkyrie sounds great, but better on my better DAPs. The new Amazon app takes this up several notches and gets the iPhone closer to my dedicated DAPs mentioned below. In fact, the music discovery on the iPhone has made it my preferred method to listen to the Valkyrie on the go. Either way, the music sounds full-sized from the iPhone, just more filled out with the Amazon app. But the dedicated DAPs are clearly better overall. I just wish that I had access to the Amazon music app with these DAPs. As mentioned above, the only weakness on the iPhone is that in crowded or dynamic passages there can be some clipping at first. However, for whatever reason, the clipping seems to disappear, and the fullness of the note returns after the iPhone warms up with 15 minutes or so constant playing.
• Calyx M: The Calyx M is famous for its sound quality implying that the 9018 is responsible. While the stats don’t speak to this, the amp is likely to be the bigger influencer burning up a giant battery in less than four hours to meet that quality output. The clarity and transparency offered in the colder signature of the Valkyrie is expressed in this setup offer more detail than the Sony below. In comparison, I like the Calyx M better than the Sony, but both are great. The Calyx takes the performance up a notch, while Sony can actually be more fun sometimes warming up the signature. An advantage the Calyx has over Sony is that volume slider that allows me to perfect the volume for each song instantly and to play the Valkyrie louder than normal for short bursts.
• Sony WM1a: The Sony was almost sold earlier this year as it didn’t pair well with my CIEMs until I got the Legend X. Now the Valkyrie adds another great pairing to the list to justify keeping the Sony and its superior battery life and UX. Sony brings an overall warmer signature to the Valkyrie. Sony also brings a girth to the note and more resonance and textures. Right now, Sony gets more time with the Valkyrie than the Calyx simply due to usability.
• Hugo 2: The H2 takes the experience up a notch with a better DAC and AMP. The pairing is more in line with the Calyx M but on steroids. The bass comes out more, the detail is at another level, and the sound gets fuller. However, as with the M, the H2 brings out the clarity/transparency of the Valkyrie for more of an audiophile sound rather than the more fun Sony. The problem with the H2 is that it is a stack that is not always convenient, so this is not as normal of a pairing as the Burson Playmate which takes it up another notch given the additional driving power if I have to deal with the inconvenience.
• Burson Playmate: Going desktop, the Burson Playmate is my favorite pairing supersizing the overall SQ significantly and in a fun musical way that crushes the Sony. It should also be mentioned that I am employing the Amazon HD Music application as a source and running it through my Sonarworks True-Fi application tuned to my HD800 headphones that work well with the Valkyrie signature. Playing through iTunes with True-Fi turned off brings down the sound quality noticeably, so some may consider this a cheat. Regardless, the Playmate drives almost 2 watts into the Valkyrie 3 ohms, so the volume stays between 1 to 20 out of 100 steps. This is a lot of volume range for a CIEM as the Wraith topped out a 1 to 2 out of 100 steps. This shows how easily the Valkyrie consumes power due to its lower sensitivity. The Burson employs a Sabre DAC, the 9038, but there is no bright signature here, just clarity and a very meaty textured sound.

Comparisons
As mentioned in the beginning, I have a great collection of CIEM from which I judge all newcomers. Besides having access to all the TOTL CIEMs in my tours, I have accumulated a nice collection of my favorite including – ELYSIUM, Legend X, A18 Tzar, Valkyrie, Hidition NT-6 Pro, A12t, Aether, and Fearless S12. To offer some insight to the performance here, I will compare the Valkyrie to my best below:

• 64 Audio A18: The 18 is my detail monster and the one by which I judge all others. That being said, it has a variable signature which I have standardized with the M15 APEX module that is more analytical and my OLSO cable to maintain that performance while bring up the bass a notch for a richer character. The 18 has a well-deserved place in the top TOTL CIEM tier and is likely to remain there for a long time. While its perfection quickly impresses, this perfection is also its greatest weakness as it can get boring over time. For this reason, I have collected a range of CIEMs that I rotate to keep my interest high. Compared to the Valkyrie, the 18 has a larger sound stage, better imaging, and a much more audiophile sound…but the Valkyrie is way more fun. The Valkyrie EST treble and dynamic bass are way more addicting. While the 18 tickles your ears with impressive details, the Valkyrie offers these same details in a being there front and center rave party format. The Valkyrie is just way more fun serving a different purpose and getting much more ear time than my 18.
• Legend X: My X has been my most listed to CIEM until the Valkyrie arrived. Going back and forth, there are two very wonderful signatures that are very complimentary and different allowing both to sit prominently in my collection. The X takes the warmer side of the road making all music fun and rich. It makes mediocre music sound good. However, the dual subwoofers in the X are the star of the show. While they only show up when called for, my tendency is to listen to music that calls for bass when listening to the X because it is so much fun. The treble and mids and soundstage are wonderful as well reminding me of the EE Zeus when the bass is not called for so there is nothing bad to report for the X. However, the Valkyrie bass is dialed down to lower registers and enhanced to larger slam. As mentioned before, this makes the Valkyrie much colder and defined bringing out more transparency than experience in a warmer X signature. The X is more audiophile and wider and softer when I am looking for an evening listening experience, but during the day, the Valkyrie has replaced the X on the road for my active listening.
• ELYSIUM: The ELYSIUM has the best mids period with a dynamic mid driver. It also has an EST treble setup with a single BA for lows making it a tribrid as well. However, the ELYSIUM and the Valkyrie couldn’t be any more different from the Valkyrie emphasizing the bass and treble where the ELYSIUM emphasizes the mids. In comparison, I would say that the ELYSIUM is the better all-rounder where the Valkyrie is more fun. Like the X, the ELYSIUM is more of an evening listen now that I have the Valkyrie to take active on the go duties.

Concluding Thoughts
I find that about 80 percent of my ear time goes to active on the go listening while I exercise or run chores in or out of the house, with only 20 percent going to nighttime audiophile listening when I get a chance. While I want top audiophile SQ for both types of listening, for active listening I prefer a more energetic signature with more bass to compensate for the noise and distraction and also to put a hop in my step and wake me up. At night for audiophile listening, I prefer a bigger soundstage with a gentler audiophile tuning to pull out every last ounce of detail. The Valkyrie fits the first active listening description the best but can be used for the later as well. The 18 is better suited for the later audiophile listening. The X serves both purposes well as does the ELYSIUM but both at a far greater price tag than the Valkyrie. I think that the Valkyrie nails my needs for active listening and at a comparatively good price nearly half the ELYSIUM’s price. Yet the Valkyrie performance is nearly at the level of these much more expensive CIEMs and better suited for 80 percent of my needs. This made the Valkyrie a “no brainer” for me.