FlipEars Legion
- Added by Japz77
- Create date
TL;DR: An absolute package in looks and sound
Overview/History
Hi all.
I'm going to apologize in advance because I'm going to re-use a bunch of gifs from my Legion video review. I'm actually going to list video at the top in case you'd prefer to skip straight to watching vs reading. But, if you'd prefer to read, scroll on ahead!
I've previously heard of FlipEars who have released other gorgeous looking IEMs such as the Aurora and the Zurq. But, just after SoCal CanJam, I was turned onto the FlipEars Arsenal collection by some people on the Gizaudio Discord. Curiously, I took a look at the shells and fell in love with the looks at first sight. I figured that if they sound as good as they look, FlipEars has a hit on their hands.
The FlipEars Arsenal collection has two different IEMs that are being released. There is the FlipEars Aegis (targeting $500 retail) and the flagship Legion. I'm hoping to have a review for the Aegis when it's ready but it may still be going under some development at this time.
The FlipEars Legion is retailing just under $1k. At the time of this written review, I was told that the price is around $849 USD. With this package, you're getting a 1DD + 1BCD + 1EST driver IEM. As an early spoiler, this is one of the biggest, boldest implementations of the BCD I've experienced beyond something like the ZE51B or other similar IEMs.
Specifications so you don't have to go look:
Build Quality, Comfort and Accessories
Not a lot of photos this time as this was a review unit but take a look at these gorgeous shells!
For a full breakdown of the IEM, check my 'unboxing' video. As this is a tour unit, this is not the final unboxing experience people will get with a retail unit of the Legion and, even then, it came with some great marketing material and a pretty good case/cable.
Nozzle Lip was measured at 5.9mm
Tip Rolling
No smooth nozzle! Whew. I didn't have a flight of stock tips to check out but, since the nozzle was normal, I was able to tip roll and found some great synergy with my usual flight of tips. My favorites:
Final Type E - Clear/Red: A great combination in this case. Final tips tend to work really well for me to engage with the BCD and provides good balance of bass with still engaging treble.
Dunu S&S: Also a great combination. I found that this pushed up the vocals a bit more and gave it a bit wider sound. Sub-bass took the biggest hit, though, so I prefer the Final Type E a bit more.
Fiio HS20: Second best combination - great bass balance with keeping the treble and open sound stage going.
Cable
The cable is fine; it's not the worst cable I've ever used and I never felt it was lacking.
*Thanks to @AudioAmigoReviews for this image as I forgot to take one of the IEM and it's cable*
It's not too stiff, not too memory prone. I'm curious about rolling it to another cable selection (like the Gladiator cables) but the Legion -is- recessed 2-pin so that is probably the only negative I have with the design/cable. Even though I get it and the fit is amazing.
Sound
So, how do the Legion sound?
The vibe with the Legion is one of my favorites. From the very first moment I put them in my ears, I could tell that they were special.
On par with some pretty crazy epic IEMs, the FlipEars Legion is one of my favorite basshead balanced IEMs. While the bass and mids are the most emphasized parts, there is great energy across the entire sound frequency so that nothing is lacking.
It combines great technical capability, one of the most immersive BCD implementations, and some of my favorite bass I've ever heard. The Legion brings an overall coherent, aggressively fun yet refined sound performance.
The sign of a great bass tuned IEM is the ability to go from hip hop or tracks with heavy bass emphasis to orchestra, jazz, acoustic with the bass performance scaling naturally to allow the track to emphasize what it needs to. The Legion is one of those IEMs that does a great job of bouncing between genres effortlessly.
Gear Tested On: Primarily streamed music via either dedicated Streamer, Laptop or Phone
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Abigail Pro
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Muse Hifi M5 Ultra
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Raspberry Pi4 w/ Volumio -> JDS Labs Element 4
Streamed Music chain: WiiM Mini -> JDS Labs Atom DAC+ -> JDS Labs OL Switcher -> Geshelli Labs Archel 3 Pro
*My Audio Preference and Score Disclaimer*: To preface my breakdown, here's my sound preference. I tend to prefer warmer sound. I enjoy good sub-bass extension with enough mid-bass to feel the music. I prefer more fuller sounding mids to match my library. My preference is for smooth treble extension; while I'm not treble sensitive, I'd probably lean more towards 'safer' treble tuning for longer listening. I also tend to listen at either medium to louder listening volumes (reasonably loud).
In addition, all scores listed below are typically (unless otherwise stated) rated/scored as it relates to it's peers in the same price group.
Lows/Bass:
The bass of the Legion is on par with some of my favorites bass tuned IEMs.
The sub-bass has deep hitting emphasis that gives it that subwoofer feeling while the mid-bass is punchy and dynamic. The attack is aggressive and immersive with how the Legion encompasses you in any of your more bass heavy tracks. The decay is satisfying and natural sounding to give some extra enjoyment.
One of the best things about the Legion, though, is that the detail is still there. There is an excellent amount of quantity to match the quality aspect for the bass. Nothing sounds or feels bloated or overly emphasized and unnatural.
Bass Score: 9.5/10 - TL;DR: This one is for the bass-heads who are looking for not just good quality, quantity but want *engagement* in the bass
Mids:
The implementation of the BCD is working overdrive on what it does to the mid range here.
Vocals are excellent and have great balance. Male vocals sound natural with a hint of warmth. Female vocals have good elevation on the upper mids for proper airiness without sounding shouty. They both sound more forward to the mix but not right in the ear.
Instruments shine here as well. Piano strings, guitars, everything sounds incredibly rich without losing any of the detail.
The best part is the BCD provides excellent note weight to both vocals and instruments. This brings an aggressive, immersive sensation to both that isn't common to a lot of other IEMs. The mid range is just so engaging and goes hand in hand with the excellent bass.
Mids Score: 9.25/10 - TL;DR: Absolutely lush vocals and great immersion with the BCD. The second star of the show.
Treble:
The treble extension for the Legion is elevated to provide overall balance to the sound signature. It doesn't come off as treble hell at all despite needing the extra energy to bring balance in.
There is a good amount of elevation in the upper treble with just enough sparkle and energy to prevent the Legion from being dark sounding but without having any graininess or sibilance.
The energy, while not pushing the sound to be bright sounding, is controlled and presented well to not allow it to be too L-shaped with emphasis all on the bass/mids. That being said, it's not the star of the show and it does well to compliment the strengths of the tuning.
Treble Score: 8.75/10 - TL;DR: Provides great balance to the bass/mid range - works well even at higher volumes. EST implementation is solid - not as crisp or incisive as other sets but still well done
Detail, Separation, Imaging, Overall Soundstage, Etc.:
The technical performance is quite good. Most of the emphasis is really on how enveloping the sound is but there is still great technicalities here.
Separation and imaging are done quite well. Even in extremely busy tracks, it's very easy to pinpoint where things should be.
The soundstage is very enveloping and really provides that surround sound type of sensation to the music. The soundstage has a great blend of depth and sounds more than adequately wide.
The Legion does a great job of still providing that technical performance while maintaining a satisfying musical tonality that makes music pop out more. Music is just satisfying and engaging on the Legion.
Technicalities Score: 8.75/10 - TL;DR: Great technical performance considering how musical the set is - immersion/soundstage factor is another level
Who is this for?
The FlipEars Legion works in a wide variety of genres. But, really, it comes down to what your sound preference is with bass. Do you like a good amount of bass/bass engagement? This is for you. This would not work if you're a neutralhead/treblehead.
Some of my favorite tracks, as an example, include:
The Black Keys - "Gold on the Ceiling"
The Beatles - "Come Together"
The Weeknd w/ Kendrick Lamar - "Pray For Me"
Fleetwood Mac - "Dreams"
Florence + The Machine - "Dog Days Are Over"
Stevie Wonder - "Sir Duke"
Toto - "Rosanna"
The Seatbelts - "Tank!"
I never felt like any tracks were really lacking and I do feel pretty confident that they'd be a very engaging set with a wide variety of tracks.
Comparisons:
So, comparisons! I'm going to touch on a little variety of IEMs both from a basshead perspective and a general similar price range/performance perspective. How does Legion fair in a fight?
Jomo Nautilus: This is a very, very tough comparison to me to make because, at this time, I really like the Jomo Nautilus and it's another IEM that I think really hits above it's price point.
It does so many good things. With a DD+BCD+Micro planar set up, it's in a similar wheelhouse of just great sound but with a different presentation and a more subtle side of the BCD experience.
The Legion comes off as warmer, bassier, more engaging while the Nautilus is more incisive, detailed, precise. Not to say that the Nautilus doesn't have great vocals or warmth but it's definitely on the more technical side than the Legion while the Legion is more musical/bassier.
I would have to go with the Legion over the Nautilus but I could also see people enjoying the more incisive nature of the Nautilus instead.
Nightjar Singularity: A basshead IEM!
In some ways, the Nightjar Singularity is kind of a disappointing listen to me because I want to love it more. I want to really enjoy the bass because I think the Duality is an amazing set. Unfortunately, in listening to both the Legion and the Singularity, I felt like the Singularity had, for sure, more bass quantity but it didn't translate to the same level of enjoyment that I got with the Legion.
The Legion comes off bassier (likely due to the BCD), more engaging and lively. It also has better balance than the Singularity which is more tame on the upper mids/treble side so it can sound a bit darker/smoother. But, it also comes off a bit sterile to my ears while the Legion is lively and a complete vibe. I'd give the nod to the FlipEars Legion > Nightjar Singularity
Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch: This is both a testament to how good the Punch is but also how bassy the Legion sounds.
The Punch is a great basshead all-rounder IEM but more in a conventional way as it doesn't have any BCD 'magic'. That being said, it's no slouch on bass engagement. For half the price of the Legion, the Punch is enjoyable enough that I think people could enjoy it and get great mids/treble extension that sounds correct.
That being said, the Legion comes off way more engaging due to the BCD and you really are getting stellar performance for stepping up to the Legion. It becomes a value proposition argument in this case. If your price range is sub-$500, go for the Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch (as I have not confirmed how good the Aegis is). If your price range is up to $1k, Legion by far is more fun. For my library and fun, they both coexist but I'd give the nod to the FlipEars Legion > Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch due to it being able to do something more special.
FatFreq Deuce, Maestro Mini, Scarlet Mini: Quick hits on these ones.
Deuce: is more sub-bass clean with great overall detail. Legion will be more engaging, more mid-bass, musical sounding. FlipEars Legion > FatFreq Deuce to my enjoyment.
Maestro Mini: Mini has some in-ear energy that kind of makes it vibrate a bit while listening to bass heavy tracks. There is more sharpness to bring balance and vocals aren't quite as pushed forward in the tracks to my ears. Legion is both more controlled overall while having that bass vibration/engagement factor amped up. Maestro Mini's fit is a bit better with the smaller size. Kind of a toss up in a way but I would push the nod towards the FlipEars Legion > Maestro Mini.
Keep in mind that the Maestro Mini is also something I haven't had a chance to re-listen to in a while due to it being in RMA still so this is based on memory.
Scarlet Mini: This is also based on memory but Scarlet Mini if all you want is bass. If you want bass engagement but good balance, get the Legion. I can't say either is better because they're in two different worlds.
Empire Ears Triton: This is a set that I've borrowed (and been meaning to finish up a review on) from @EnigmaFotos
The Triton retails close to $2k and is pretty well established at this time for being a great bassy all-rounder type of sound with it being more on the warmer/darker side.
The Legion's bass hits similarly deep, the BCD provides a bit more immersion, while the Legion has similar levels of warmth without tilting towards the darker side. It's basically if the Triton had more upper mids/treble extension and shows just how good the Legion performs way above it's price point. I prefer the FlipEars Legion > Empire Ears Triton
Other Things to be aware of:
I'm not able to really show you the full unboxing experience, as this was a tour unit, but my understanding is that it's just as premium as the looks are.
There is also a little brother set (the Aegis) which will be less expensive that may cater more towards bassheads. I will remit back once I'm able to listen to it but I think the value here is through the roof with just how good the FlipEars Legion is with the sound package, the looks, the build, the fit. It's an absolute home run of an IEM.
Volume Listening:
With the treble being more controlled, I was able to really push the Legion to both higher volume listening and moderate volume listening. There really isn't a volume limitation here and I think it works for a wide variety of listening levels.
Source Synergy:
Can you use Tubes here? Absolutely. You'll bring the special sauce to a whole new level.
But, I would argue that a more neutral/traditional source will actually work really well here without muddying up the sound. The Legion doesn't need too much power to drive and is a chameleon with sources working no matter what but you can find great synergy either way of emphasizing it's strengths even more or providing traditional power to keep it still balanced.
Special Sauce/Personal Bias Score: 11.25/10 - TL;DR: I am legitimately biased because of how much I enjoy this sound, how I think it performs way above it's price point, and just the overall look/feel/aesthetics. I have inflated this score because this IEM... This IEM is it.
Conclusion:
The FlipEars Legion is one of my favorite IEMs under $1k that combines absolutely phenomenal bass, engaging and immersive mids, and one of the funnest BCD experiences out there in the market.
FlipEars is not as well known to the western market as traditional Chi-Fi, but this new Arsenal Collection is poised, IMO, to really make a splash in the coming weeks/months. I'd go out on a limb to say that the Legion provides an experience that isn't found in a lot of the competition in it's price bracket and makes an absolute great addition to anyone's IEM line up.
If you are looking for an IEM that is in the upper tier of BCD performance and bass performance while having some of the best looking shells in the hobby, look no further.
Final Weighted Score: 9.5/10 - I am biased. This is a 5/5 for me. It's that fun and I hope everyone gets a chance to try it out.
Thanks for reading!
Overview/History
Hi all.
I'm going to apologize in advance because I'm going to re-use a bunch of gifs from my Legion video review. I'm actually going to list video at the top in case you'd prefer to skip straight to watching vs reading. But, if you'd prefer to read, scroll on ahead!
I've previously heard of FlipEars who have released other gorgeous looking IEMs such as the Aurora and the Zurq. But, just after SoCal CanJam, I was turned onto the FlipEars Arsenal collection by some people on the Gizaudio Discord. Curiously, I took a look at the shells and fell in love with the looks at first sight. I figured that if they sound as good as they look, FlipEars has a hit on their hands.
The FlipEars Arsenal collection has two different IEMs that are being released. There is the FlipEars Aegis (targeting $500 retail) and the flagship Legion. I'm hoping to have a review for the Aegis when it's ready but it may still be going under some development at this time.
The FlipEars Legion is retailing just under $1k. At the time of this written review, I was told that the price is around $849 USD. With this package, you're getting a 1DD + 1BCD + 1EST driver IEM. As an early spoiler, this is one of the biggest, boldest implementations of the BCD I've experienced beyond something like the ZE51B or other similar IEMs.
Specifications so you don't have to go look:
- 1 Dynamic Driver
- 1 EarQuake Bone Conductor Driver
- 1 SPARK Electret Tweeter (EST)
- Frequency Response: 5hz-40khz
- Impedance: 16ohms
Build Quality, Comfort and Accessories
Not a lot of photos this time as this was a review unit but take a look at these gorgeous shells!
For a full breakdown of the IEM, check my 'unboxing' video. As this is a tour unit, this is not the final unboxing experience people will get with a retail unit of the Legion and, even then, it came with some great marketing material and a pretty good case/cable.
Nozzle Lip was measured at 5.9mm
Tip Rolling
No smooth nozzle! Whew. I didn't have a flight of stock tips to check out but, since the nozzle was normal, I was able to tip roll and found some great synergy with my usual flight of tips. My favorites:
Final Type E - Clear/Red: A great combination in this case. Final tips tend to work really well for me to engage with the BCD and provides good balance of bass with still engaging treble.
Dunu S&S: Also a great combination. I found that this pushed up the vocals a bit more and gave it a bit wider sound. Sub-bass took the biggest hit, though, so I prefer the Final Type E a bit more.
Fiio HS20: Second best combination - great bass balance with keeping the treble and open sound stage going.
Cable
The cable is fine; it's not the worst cable I've ever used and I never felt it was lacking.
*Thanks to @AudioAmigoReviews for this image as I forgot to take one of the IEM and it's cable*
It's not too stiff, not too memory prone. I'm curious about rolling it to another cable selection (like the Gladiator cables) but the Legion -is- recessed 2-pin so that is probably the only negative I have with the design/cable. Even though I get it and the fit is amazing.
Sound
So, how do the Legion sound?
The vibe with the Legion is one of my favorites. From the very first moment I put them in my ears, I could tell that they were special.
On par with some pretty crazy epic IEMs, the FlipEars Legion is one of my favorite basshead balanced IEMs. While the bass and mids are the most emphasized parts, there is great energy across the entire sound frequency so that nothing is lacking.
It combines great technical capability, one of the most immersive BCD implementations, and some of my favorite bass I've ever heard. The Legion brings an overall coherent, aggressively fun yet refined sound performance.
The sign of a great bass tuned IEM is the ability to go from hip hop or tracks with heavy bass emphasis to orchestra, jazz, acoustic with the bass performance scaling naturally to allow the track to emphasize what it needs to. The Legion is one of those IEMs that does a great job of bouncing between genres effortlessly.
Gear Tested On: Primarily streamed music via either dedicated Streamer, Laptop or Phone
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Abigail Pro
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Muse Hifi M5 Ultra
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Raspberry Pi4 w/ Volumio -> JDS Labs Element 4
Streamed Music chain: WiiM Mini -> JDS Labs Atom DAC+ -> JDS Labs OL Switcher -> Geshelli Labs Archel 3 Pro
*My Audio Preference and Score Disclaimer*: To preface my breakdown, here's my sound preference. I tend to prefer warmer sound. I enjoy good sub-bass extension with enough mid-bass to feel the music. I prefer more fuller sounding mids to match my library. My preference is for smooth treble extension; while I'm not treble sensitive, I'd probably lean more towards 'safer' treble tuning for longer listening. I also tend to listen at either medium to louder listening volumes (reasonably loud).
In addition, all scores listed below are typically (unless otherwise stated) rated/scored as it relates to it's peers in the same price group.
Lows/Bass:
The bass of the Legion is on par with some of my favorites bass tuned IEMs.
The sub-bass has deep hitting emphasis that gives it that subwoofer feeling while the mid-bass is punchy and dynamic. The attack is aggressive and immersive with how the Legion encompasses you in any of your more bass heavy tracks. The decay is satisfying and natural sounding to give some extra enjoyment.
One of the best things about the Legion, though, is that the detail is still there. There is an excellent amount of quantity to match the quality aspect for the bass. Nothing sounds or feels bloated or overly emphasized and unnatural.
Bass Score: 9.5/10 - TL;DR: This one is for the bass-heads who are looking for not just good quality, quantity but want *engagement* in the bass
Mids:
The implementation of the BCD is working overdrive on what it does to the mid range here.
Vocals are excellent and have great balance. Male vocals sound natural with a hint of warmth. Female vocals have good elevation on the upper mids for proper airiness without sounding shouty. They both sound more forward to the mix but not right in the ear.
Instruments shine here as well. Piano strings, guitars, everything sounds incredibly rich without losing any of the detail.
The best part is the BCD provides excellent note weight to both vocals and instruments. This brings an aggressive, immersive sensation to both that isn't common to a lot of other IEMs. The mid range is just so engaging and goes hand in hand with the excellent bass.
Mids Score: 9.25/10 - TL;DR: Absolutely lush vocals and great immersion with the BCD. The second star of the show.
Treble:
The treble extension for the Legion is elevated to provide overall balance to the sound signature. It doesn't come off as treble hell at all despite needing the extra energy to bring balance in.
There is a good amount of elevation in the upper treble with just enough sparkle and energy to prevent the Legion from being dark sounding but without having any graininess or sibilance.
The energy, while not pushing the sound to be bright sounding, is controlled and presented well to not allow it to be too L-shaped with emphasis all on the bass/mids. That being said, it's not the star of the show and it does well to compliment the strengths of the tuning.
Treble Score: 8.75/10 - TL;DR: Provides great balance to the bass/mid range - works well even at higher volumes. EST implementation is solid - not as crisp or incisive as other sets but still well done
Detail, Separation, Imaging, Overall Soundstage, Etc.:
The technical performance is quite good. Most of the emphasis is really on how enveloping the sound is but there is still great technicalities here.
Separation and imaging are done quite well. Even in extremely busy tracks, it's very easy to pinpoint where things should be.
The soundstage is very enveloping and really provides that surround sound type of sensation to the music. The soundstage has a great blend of depth and sounds more than adequately wide.
The Legion does a great job of still providing that technical performance while maintaining a satisfying musical tonality that makes music pop out more. Music is just satisfying and engaging on the Legion.
Technicalities Score: 8.75/10 - TL;DR: Great technical performance considering how musical the set is - immersion/soundstage factor is another level
Who is this for?
The FlipEars Legion works in a wide variety of genres. But, really, it comes down to what your sound preference is with bass. Do you like a good amount of bass/bass engagement? This is for you. This would not work if you're a neutralhead/treblehead.
Some of my favorite tracks, as an example, include:
The Black Keys - "Gold on the Ceiling"
The Beatles - "Come Together"
The Weeknd w/ Kendrick Lamar - "Pray For Me"
Fleetwood Mac - "Dreams"
Florence + The Machine - "Dog Days Are Over"
Stevie Wonder - "Sir Duke"
Toto - "Rosanna"
The Seatbelts - "Tank!"
I never felt like any tracks were really lacking and I do feel pretty confident that they'd be a very engaging set with a wide variety of tracks.
Comparisons:
So, comparisons! I'm going to touch on a little variety of IEMs both from a basshead perspective and a general similar price range/performance perspective. How does Legion fair in a fight?
Jomo Nautilus: This is a very, very tough comparison to me to make because, at this time, I really like the Jomo Nautilus and it's another IEM that I think really hits above it's price point.
It does so many good things. With a DD+BCD+Micro planar set up, it's in a similar wheelhouse of just great sound but with a different presentation and a more subtle side of the BCD experience.
The Legion comes off as warmer, bassier, more engaging while the Nautilus is more incisive, detailed, precise. Not to say that the Nautilus doesn't have great vocals or warmth but it's definitely on the more technical side than the Legion while the Legion is more musical/bassier.
I would have to go with the Legion over the Nautilus but I could also see people enjoying the more incisive nature of the Nautilus instead.
Nightjar Singularity: A basshead IEM!
In some ways, the Nightjar Singularity is kind of a disappointing listen to me because I want to love it more. I want to really enjoy the bass because I think the Duality is an amazing set. Unfortunately, in listening to both the Legion and the Singularity, I felt like the Singularity had, for sure, more bass quantity but it didn't translate to the same level of enjoyment that I got with the Legion.
The Legion comes off bassier (likely due to the BCD), more engaging and lively. It also has better balance than the Singularity which is more tame on the upper mids/treble side so it can sound a bit darker/smoother. But, it also comes off a bit sterile to my ears while the Legion is lively and a complete vibe. I'd give the nod to the FlipEars Legion > Nightjar Singularity
Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch: This is both a testament to how good the Punch is but also how bassy the Legion sounds.
The Punch is a great basshead all-rounder IEM but more in a conventional way as it doesn't have any BCD 'magic'. That being said, it's no slouch on bass engagement. For half the price of the Legion, the Punch is enjoyable enough that I think people could enjoy it and get great mids/treble extension that sounds correct.
That being said, the Legion comes off way more engaging due to the BCD and you really are getting stellar performance for stepping up to the Legion. It becomes a value proposition argument in this case. If your price range is sub-$500, go for the Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch (as I have not confirmed how good the Aegis is). If your price range is up to $1k, Legion by far is more fun. For my library and fun, they both coexist but I'd give the nod to the FlipEars Legion > Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch due to it being able to do something more special.
FatFreq Deuce, Maestro Mini, Scarlet Mini: Quick hits on these ones.
Deuce: is more sub-bass clean with great overall detail. Legion will be more engaging, more mid-bass, musical sounding. FlipEars Legion > FatFreq Deuce to my enjoyment.
Maestro Mini: Mini has some in-ear energy that kind of makes it vibrate a bit while listening to bass heavy tracks. There is more sharpness to bring balance and vocals aren't quite as pushed forward in the tracks to my ears. Legion is both more controlled overall while having that bass vibration/engagement factor amped up. Maestro Mini's fit is a bit better with the smaller size. Kind of a toss up in a way but I would push the nod towards the FlipEars Legion > Maestro Mini.
Keep in mind that the Maestro Mini is also something I haven't had a chance to re-listen to in a while due to it being in RMA still so this is based on memory.
Scarlet Mini: This is also based on memory but Scarlet Mini if all you want is bass. If you want bass engagement but good balance, get the Legion. I can't say either is better because they're in two different worlds.
Empire Ears Triton: This is a set that I've borrowed (and been meaning to finish up a review on) from @EnigmaFotos
The Triton retails close to $2k and is pretty well established at this time for being a great bassy all-rounder type of sound with it being more on the warmer/darker side.
The Legion's bass hits similarly deep, the BCD provides a bit more immersion, while the Legion has similar levels of warmth without tilting towards the darker side. It's basically if the Triton had more upper mids/treble extension and shows just how good the Legion performs way above it's price point. I prefer the FlipEars Legion > Empire Ears Triton
Other Things to be aware of:
I'm not able to really show you the full unboxing experience, as this was a tour unit, but my understanding is that it's just as premium as the looks are.
There is also a little brother set (the Aegis) which will be less expensive that may cater more towards bassheads. I will remit back once I'm able to listen to it but I think the value here is through the roof with just how good the FlipEars Legion is with the sound package, the looks, the build, the fit. It's an absolute home run of an IEM.
Volume Listening:
With the treble being more controlled, I was able to really push the Legion to both higher volume listening and moderate volume listening. There really isn't a volume limitation here and I think it works for a wide variety of listening levels.
Source Synergy:
Can you use Tubes here? Absolutely. You'll bring the special sauce to a whole new level.
But, I would argue that a more neutral/traditional source will actually work really well here without muddying up the sound. The Legion doesn't need too much power to drive and is a chameleon with sources working no matter what but you can find great synergy either way of emphasizing it's strengths even more or providing traditional power to keep it still balanced.
Special Sauce/Personal Bias Score: 11.25/10 - TL;DR: I am legitimately biased because of how much I enjoy this sound, how I think it performs way above it's price point, and just the overall look/feel/aesthetics. I have inflated this score because this IEM... This IEM is it.
Conclusion:
The FlipEars Legion is one of my favorite IEMs under $1k that combines absolutely phenomenal bass, engaging and immersive mids, and one of the funnest BCD experiences out there in the market.
FlipEars is not as well known to the western market as traditional Chi-Fi, but this new Arsenal Collection is poised, IMO, to really make a splash in the coming weeks/months. I'd go out on a limb to say that the Legion provides an experience that isn't found in a lot of the competition in it's price bracket and makes an absolute great addition to anyone's IEM line up.
If you are looking for an IEM that is in the upper tier of BCD performance and bass performance while having some of the best looking shells in the hobby, look no further.
Final Weighted Score: 9.5/10 - I am biased. This is a 5/5 for me. It's that fun and I hope everyone gets a chance to try it out.
Thanks for reading!
buke9
Nice review. Yes these were quite a surprise when our friend Jonathan broke them out at the pre Jam in NYC everyone enjoyed them as did I. Hope to see you in SoCal.
MakeItWain
@buke9 - will be going to SoCal for sure! And Dallas! Yeah, Jonathan was texting me when he busted them out saying they're an immediate hit. They're incredibly fun. Thanks for checking the review, sir!
Tabikinoya Cephas
looks crazily good for the shell.
Short Review, apologies for lack of specified tracks.
Edit: Here are the pictures of my actual unit
Equipment Used:
Source: Ibasso DC Elite (4.4mm), AK Sp2000T, Ibasso DX260
Tips: Stock silicon tips, Eletech Baroque, Radius deep mounts
Cable: Stock cable
Sound Signature
The Flipears Legion presents a balanced tuning with a slight emphasis on the bass and upper midrange regions. The overall signature could be described as fun, musical while maintaining high technical performance.
I used the word slight to describe the emphasis of the bass as while noticeable and felt, it does not interfere with the midrange and not as fatiguing compared to other basshead sets. This set is not a one trick pony.
Bass (4.5/5)
The low-end response shows very good control and texture. Sub-bass extends deep with rumble I usually associate with speakers. The mid-bass maintains punch without bleeding into the mids. Bass decay is natural, striking a fine balance between speed and weight. Lower bass does benefit from a boost if you don't mind using EQ. It's best to listen in person as the fit will dictate the enhancement brought about by the BCD.
Key characteristics:
Sub-bass extension is present, almost similar to what I hear and feel with speakers.
Mid-bass impact is present but controlled
Excellent layering in complex bass passages, no one note bass here
Fast attack with natural decay
Rumble and physical sensation makes this a fun IEM
Midrange (5/5)
The midrange presentation is slightly forward in the upper mids, giving vocals and instruments an engaging presence, the combination of the DD and BCD may have something to do with this. Male vocals maintain their fundamental weight while female vocals shine with clarity.
Notable aspects:
Natural timbre for acoustic instruments
Clear vocal articulation
Very Good separation between instruments
Treble (4/5)
Treble presentation strikes a delicate balance between detail and smoothness. There's enough air and sparkle to provide detail though it does sound laid back on certain genres. It's just missing that extra presence on some tracks. This may be the designer's intention, I am guessing some dip near the 6khz region, changing of tips didn't improve this for me.
Observations:
Well-extended upper frequencies
Good detail retrieval without harshness
Cymbals and hi-hats maintain natural decay
Technical Performance
Soundstage: good width with good depth
Imaging: Very good placement of instruments
Detail Retrieval: High level of micro-detail even with the bass enhancement
Separation: Very good instrument separation even in complex passages, even though there is bass enhancement.
Summary
The Flipears Legion demonstrates impressive technical capabilities while maintaining musicality. Its fun, musical tuning with slight emphasis on specific regions creates an engaging listening experience. The IEM excels particularly in its midrange presentation, having that fun factor with the BCD without sacrificing detail. This is a special IEM that although not perfect, is a taste of things to come.
Rating: 4.5/5
Note: I purchased the item prior to this review. My impressions are based on personal experience and preferences. Your mileage may vary depending on source equipment, fit, tips, and individual taste.
Edit: Here are the pictures of my actual unit
Equipment Used:
Source: Ibasso DC Elite (4.4mm), AK Sp2000T, Ibasso DX260
Tips: Stock silicon tips, Eletech Baroque, Radius deep mounts
Cable: Stock cable
Sound Signature
The Flipears Legion presents a balanced tuning with a slight emphasis on the bass and upper midrange regions. The overall signature could be described as fun, musical while maintaining high technical performance.
I used the word slight to describe the emphasis of the bass as while noticeable and felt, it does not interfere with the midrange and not as fatiguing compared to other basshead sets. This set is not a one trick pony.
Bass (4.5/5)
The low-end response shows very good control and texture. Sub-bass extends deep with rumble I usually associate with speakers. The mid-bass maintains punch without bleeding into the mids. Bass decay is natural, striking a fine balance between speed and weight. Lower bass does benefit from a boost if you don't mind using EQ. It's best to listen in person as the fit will dictate the enhancement brought about by the BCD.
Key characteristics:
Sub-bass extension is present, almost similar to what I hear and feel with speakers.
Mid-bass impact is present but controlled
Excellent layering in complex bass passages, no one note bass here
Fast attack with natural decay
Rumble and physical sensation makes this a fun IEM
Midrange (5/5)
The midrange presentation is slightly forward in the upper mids, giving vocals and instruments an engaging presence, the combination of the DD and BCD may have something to do with this. Male vocals maintain their fundamental weight while female vocals shine with clarity.
Notable aspects:
Natural timbre for acoustic instruments
Clear vocal articulation
Very Good separation between instruments
Treble (4/5)
Treble presentation strikes a delicate balance between detail and smoothness. There's enough air and sparkle to provide detail though it does sound laid back on certain genres. It's just missing that extra presence on some tracks. This may be the designer's intention, I am guessing some dip near the 6khz region, changing of tips didn't improve this for me.
Observations:
Well-extended upper frequencies
Good detail retrieval without harshness
Cymbals and hi-hats maintain natural decay
Technical Performance
Soundstage: good width with good depth
Imaging: Very good placement of instruments
Detail Retrieval: High level of micro-detail even with the bass enhancement
Separation: Very good instrument separation even in complex passages, even though there is bass enhancement.
Summary
The Flipears Legion demonstrates impressive technical capabilities while maintaining musicality. Its fun, musical tuning with slight emphasis on specific regions creates an engaging listening experience. The IEM excels particularly in its midrange presentation, having that fun factor with the BCD without sacrificing detail. This is a special IEM that although not perfect, is a taste of things to come.
Rating: 4.5/5
Note: I purchased the item prior to this review. My impressions are based on personal experience and preferences. Your mileage may vary depending on source equipment, fit, tips, and individual taste.
Attachments
