Astell&Kern NOVUS IEM collab with Empire Ears

[phiemon]

I mean he did start with "it's a little early." Clearly he knows the sound will change overall. But if his opinion is right off the bat he thinks there better, I doubt they'll technically get worse?

That's right, he did.

Well, I've often experienced IEMs and DAPs sounding out-of-the-box sharply and energetically, among other things. After that, they calm down considerably, like Raven did for example.

 

[Echo42987]

That's right, he did.

Well, I've often experienced IEMs and DAPs sounding out-of-the-box sharply and energetically, among other things. After that, they calm down considerably, like Raven did for example.

I agree completely. Firm believer in break in on headphones. The Ravens did start out a bit sharp and now they're one of my favorite headphones. They've broken in nicely!

 

[UTVOL06]

My Raven also started out a bit sharp in the mid to high trebble notes. It seems to be gradually improving the more I use it. I've never burned it in. I just got it and started using it for the first time last weekend. Got a Astell&Kern SP3000T and it sound great in Hybrid mode using part OP digital and part Tubes with High current. In OP mode the sound stage is much larger and holographic than the OP digital only mode, which is more detailed and faster paced, but I feel Hybrid is the best of both worlds. It still keeps the detail while dramatically enlarging the Raven sound stage and making the music seem more colorful.. im not good at describing music audio like these audiophile IEMs reviewers can. They also have the knowledge of knowing what to listen for in order to assess the sound profile and quality.

Sorry, I went a bit off subject. I'm still stressing about when MusicTeck's Astell&Kern Novus shipment will arrive in their New Jersey location. I did see that it just "departed" the Anchorage, Alaska FedEx hub earlier today. That could mean it will get delivered sometime tomorrow between 12-4pm like the last Astell&Kern shipment that happened to be SR35 DAPs instead of the Novus IEMs. It was a 2-part shipment from Astell&Kern in South Korea with FedEx International.

Too bad they couldn't have used some sort of UPS International shipping. Where I live UPS is above and beyond the rest of the shipping companies. Way way down at the bottom of the well is USPS Postal Service and it's laid back government run style of shipping. Last time I tried using usps with priority express 2-day it ended up taking over a week to get to my house and in the process it went from MusicTeck on the east coast where I live(Georgia)..all the way over to California's post office hub. Tell me how that made any sense logistically. I was starting to worry my package was either going to get lost or damaged with as long as it had been being tossed hub to hub. There I went again on another tangent. I guess I just really can't stand waiting on my Novus IEMs! I know I will absolutely love them, because I love my EE Raven and from what I understand and what the bloom audio reviewer said that it sounded like a further refined Raven, but with a tighter harder hitting bass and better mids. I'm not sure about the treble? Lastly, I makes me feel all warm inside knowing how well they are built from having Astell&Kern's influence on design and build quality. I also love the 24K gold accents and company logos beneath the crystal sapphire glass. Oh and not to mention the durable DLC coating. Lol.

Thanks for bearing with my meandering comments.

 

[xryptic]

Just picked up my set. Sounds great at the get go.

Could be a noob question, but what does the little 2 pocket mesh pouch do that is provided in the metal case? Is it an extra protection to place each IEM within the pouch when in the metal case?

 

[UTVOL06]

Just picked up my set. Sounds great at the get go.

Could be a noob question, but what does the little 2 pocket mesh pouch do that is provided in the metal case? Is it an extra protection to place each IEM within the pouch when in the metal case?

Yes, you place each IEM into each pocket separately ideally while your cable is connected to wrap up and place in the metal container. Others have told me that it reduces wear and tear on the 2-pin cable input by keeping your cable attached all the time.

 

[xryptic]

Yes, you place each IEM into each pocket separately ideally while your cable is connected to wrap up and place in the metal container. Others have told me that it reduces wear and tear on the 2-pin cable input by keeping your cable attached all the time.

Thanks, for the info. Yeah, keeping IEM connected to the cable when storing will definitely cause less wear on the 2-pin connection for both the IEM and cable.

 

[UTVOL06]

I just saw that MusicTeck finally got their Novus pre-order shipments. I'm unsure if they got any extra for online sales. Looks like mine just shipped out as I was typing. Unfortunately I'll have to wait until Monday to get it since none of the delivery plans had Saturday delivery.

Edit: I was able to purchase UPS Priority Overnight with Saturday delivery at Pirateship.com and send the shipping label in PDF format to MusicTeck. They used it to ship my Astell&Kern Novus IEMs out this evening. Just waiting on UPS to pick up MusicTeck's customer shipments. I never thought of being able to create my own UPS labels online in PDF and just send the the online merchant the shipping label in an email.

Hopefully I'll be getting my new Novus IEMs early tomorrow morning sometime. I can't wait to see how they sound on my SP3000T in Hybrid mode. Also going to check out Astell&Kern's preset Novus EQ that comes with the SP3000T.

 

[UTVOL06]

I'm surprised no one has posted photos of their Novus IEMs yet. I guess you guys are lost in your music with these and haven't come up for air yet? I should have mine sometime tomorrow probably around 10-12pm eastern. I'll definitely post some photos!

 

[Echo42987]

I just saw that MusicTeck finally got their Novus pre-order shipments. I'm unsure if they got any extra for online sales. Looks like mine just shipped out as I was typing. Unfortunately I'll have to wait until Monday to get it since none of the delivery plans had Saturday delivery.

Edit: I was able to purchase UPS Priority Overnight with Saturday delivery at Pirateship.com and send the shipping label in PDF format to MusicTeck. They used it to ship my Astell&Kern Novus IEMs out this evening. Just waiting on UPS to pick up MusicTeck's customer shipments. I never thought of being able to create my own UPS labels online in PDF and just send the the online merchant the shipping label in an email.

Hopefully I'll be getting my new Novus IEMs early tomorrow morning sometime. I can't wait to see how they sound on my SP3000T in Hybrid mode. Also going to check out Astell&Kern's preset Novus EQ that comes with the SP3000T.

Man you were really hurting to get them lol! Enjoy your listening. You better post pictures since no one else has

 

[UTVOL06]

Man you were really hurting to get them lol! Enjoy your listening. You better post pictures since no one else has

Haha. I know they are really expensive, but ai figured since they were built like tanks they would last a lot longer than most IEMs with Acrylic shells. Or at least less likely to get damaged accidentally. I love my Raven IEMs a ton so I knew I would love these and had to have them. Especially with the dual bone conduction increasing the size of the perceived sound stage and holographic imagery.

I get so excited when it comes to a couple if things in my life. Computers(hardware, building, custom water loops, and PC gaming) and high quality audio listening with music. I guess when it comes to computers and IEMs I am a hardware tech enthusiast combined with music/gaming media junkie.

I prefer the sound of premium wired IEMs over reference headphones. Maybe something to do with the seal around the ear canal mixed with the more unique tuning you see with them. I also really love the bone conduction drivers now since they just enhance the auditory experience into a physical presence of the music's beat on top of a larger enhanced sound stage.

Thanks. I'll be back with pics tomorrow as long as the delivery stays on schedule.

 

[UTVOL06]

The Astell&Kern x Empire Ears NOVUS
IEMs finally arrived this morning! Right now I have them put up in their pouches with the audio cable attached, rolled up in the large metal NOVUS container. They look like pieces of art that are built like mini-tanks.

I'm using an alternative ear tip called "SednaEarfit Crystal Standard". These seem to allow better bone conduction transmission on my Raven IEMs and give a little bit for fine detail than the stock Final Edge Type E series tips. The Crystal tips are also slightly more rigid/reflective silicone compared to the stock type E. I highly recommend trying some. They also are more likely to make a better seal and stay in place since they are slightly more rigid.

Here are a few picks...I will make more later when I get a chance to chill and listen to them.

 

[haci]

The Astell&Kern x Empire Ears NOVUS
IEMs finally arrived this morning! Right now I have them put up in their pouches with the audio cable attached, rolled up in the large metal NOVUS container. They look like pieces of art that are built like mini-tanks.

I'm using an alternative ear tip called "SednaEarfit Crystal Standard". These seem to allow better bone conduction transmission on my Raven IEMs and give a little bit for fine detail than the stock Final Edge Type E series tips. The Crystal tips are also slightly more rigid/reflective silicone compared to the stock type E. I highly recommend trying some. They also are more likely to make a better seal and stay in place since they are slightly more rigid.

Here are a few picks...I will make more later when I get them back put to listen to them.

The BCD in Raven and Novus are different.

BCD in Raven (WeaponX, prop driver of EE) was mentioned before as conducting through the nozzle, so tips had a role in transmitting waves.

BCDs in Novus are from Sonion. As far as I know ( anyone correct pls if I’m wrong) they conduct through the shell, so tips aren’t as relevant

I’m trying to gain more insight into which BCD setup is better, any comments welcome -)

 

[UTVOL06]

The BCD in Raven and Novus are different.

BCD in Raven (WeaponX, prop driver of EE) was mentioned before as conducting through the nozzle, so tips had a role in transmitting waves.

BCDs in Novus are from Sonion. As far as I know ( anyone correct pls if I’m wrong) they conduct through the shell, so tips aren’t as relevant

I’m trying to gain more insight into which BCD setup is better, any comments welcome -)

That's pretty cool information. I didn't know that. I just thought it was one extra BCD from the Raven. That's probably what contributes to the Novus having an even larger soundstage to the Raven. Or does it have more to do with how the other drivers are setup? I always thought BCD's perceived effect gave an impression of a larger more holographic soundstage?

I wonder if anyone here has done a comparison between the Astell&Kern SP3000 and SP3000T in relation to how large the soundstage is on either one compared to one another. Some reviewers said the SP3000 still has a larger stage despite being purely digital without the Ratheon tubes.

 

[haci]

That's pretty cool information. I didn't know that. I just thought it was one extra BCD from the Raven. That's probably what contributes to the Novus having an even larger soundstage to the Raven. Or does it have more to do with how the other drivers are setup? I always thought BCD's perceived effect gave an impression of a larger more holographic soundstage?

I wonder if anyone here has done a comparison between the Astell&Kern SP3000 and SP3000T in relation to how large the soundstage is on either one compared to one another. Some reviewers said the SP3000 still has a larger stage despite being purely digital without the Ratheon tubes.

The BCD in Raven is huge compared to the ones in Novus. Just look at the relative scales compared to the dynamic drivers in the attached blow ups

 

[jonstatt]

I now have the 3000 and 3000t and Odyssey and Novus

I have been too busy to do the comparisons yet but hope to in the next couple of days. Out of the box the BCDs in the Odyssey were much more impactful but that says nothing for how things will end up.