[Tarocco]

I went from Er4p's with custom ACS tips to Evolve customs, and I wouldn't recommend it for an Ety fan. That amazing detail / presence just isn't there and the sound overall is very dark and veiled. The new Etymotic model with more bass looks really interesting and I wish I'd gone that direction.

 

[doctorjazz]

It's taken me a while to get used to the Encore sound. It seems to paradoxically do great soundstaging and detail, while rolling off the highs. Getting that fit/seal just right helps some. Send like a really good, custom silver cable would improve things here, but you're limited to the Linum. Maybe the super Linum they're supposed to release will help.

 

[joed83]

  I went from Er4p's with custom ACS tips to Evolve customs, and I wouldn't recommend it for an Ety fan. That amazing detail / presence just isn't there and the sound overall is very dark and veiled. The new Etymotic model with more bass looks really interesting and I wish I'd gone that direction.

I managed to borrow a pair of the universals over the weekend and I feel that I wouldnt be happy with them overall, I agree they sound a bit "dark" for my taste.
 
I will likely get a pair of the new er4, if they still do the trade thing.

 

[Takeanidea]

  I managed to borrow a pair of the universals over the weekend

The Evolves or the Encores?
Universals only give you a glimpse of the performance of the Encores. Interestingly when I tried the Evolves and compared them to the Encores , the sound signature was less rich more forward in the mids and thinner. I thought they sounded like my ER4ps at the time I listened to them.
Living with the Encores now for a year I think they are rich and detailed and whilst not forward in the mids and highs have plenty of good thiings going on there too. And the bass is still incredible as when I first put them on.
Compared with the IE800s or my oBravo ERIB-2as the micro details are slightly more hidden but there are no winners or losers in a league table of this quality only different flavours that one becomes accustomed to and appreciates over the course of months and years.

 

[joed83]

  The Evolves or the Encores?
Universals only give you a glimpse of the performance of the Encores. Interestingly when I tried the Evolves and compared them to the Encores , the sound signature was less rich more forward in the mids and thinner. I thought they sounded like my ER4ps at the time I listened to them.
Living with the Encores now for a year I think they are rich and detailed and whilst not forward in the mids and highs have plenty of good thiings going on there too. And the bass is still incredible as when I first put them on.
Compared with the IE800s or my oBravo ERIB-2as the micro details are slightly more hidden but there are no winners or losers in a league table of this quality only different flavours that one becomes accustomed to and appreciates over the course of months and years.

 Evolves, I was thinking about universals so it is relevant to me. I think they really need an amp to sound their best (i use my phone as a source 80% of the time now, and its rather low powered tbh)

 

[doctorjazz]

Use a balanced Pono for my Encores, has enough juice, also use the Liquid Carbon for it.

 

[episiarch]

My Evolves sound terrific out of my iPhone 5S.  They sound better out of a Mojo and in that sense I would say, sure, they need outboard equipment to sound their best.  But still, to my ears, ridiculously good out of a phone.

 

[sonickarma]

   
This is all for now....
 

 

 

 

 
Becomes.............
 

 

 

 

 
 
They look even more impressive in person 

 
Mother of pearl Red and Purple Null Audio special re-shell Encore universal for me.

 

[doctorjazz]

 

This is all for now....

Becomes.............










They look even more impressive in person 

Mother of pearl Red and Purple Null Audio special re-shell universal for me.

Who did that rebuild?

 

[sonickarma]

Who did that rebuild?

 
Null audio got acousticwerkes to do it for me.
 
https://www.facebook.com/acousticwerkes/

 

[Rollk2]

I've asked Piotr from Custom Art to do the same

 

[doctorjazz]

They're beautiful...they're done as a universal. Sounds as good as they look? Does plastic sound better?

 

[sonickarma]

They're beautiful...they're done as a universal. Sounds as good as they look? Does plastic sound better?

acrylic ^^^

Sounds warm and expansive for me , very pleased with them.

I will be using their reshell skills in furture. They also reterminated the linum cable to 2 pin for free

The RHA tips work real well with them.

Took a while but worth the wait

 

[doctorjazz]

So, I've been not enthralled with my Encores, mostly listen through a Pono. Tonight I tried using the Pono into a Liquid Carbon. Much better, highs no longer rolled off. Tried a DX90, also much better. Some sort of mismatch? (Love my Pono with most headphones, though I found it didn't mate week with my Etymotic ER-4 either)

 

[Kiats]

It could be, doctorjazz. I don't find treble roll off when I use the Encore with the LPG...