Astell&Kern NOVUS IEM collab with Empire Ears

[Frankie D]

Each to their own! I felt that the Trailli didn't deserve its accolade when I listened to it, further solidifying my point.

Well, as you know I am partial to the Traillii. However the two IEMs I was referring to that outclassed the Raven were the Alter Ego and the Perpetua. Check them out.

 

[UTVOL06]

Ahh. Okay. Impressions do change. For example, I have since heard the Raven in a quiet setting and compared to a number of top IEMs. It could not hold a candle to them and I feel it is a subpar IEM. Hopefully Novus fares better.

Anyway, I did not read the other entires, so hopefully this helped you out.

I think you just have a different sound preference, because I beg to differ. Especially calling the Raven a bad IEM when it's got nothing but good reviews.

 

[Frankie D]

Pe

I think you just have a different sound preference, because I beg to differ. Especially calling the Raven a bad IEM when it's got nothing but good reviews.

Perhaps I was too strong. I could certainly listen to it and use it. But the others were better IMHO. Another headfier auditioning at the same time felt the same way and a few others I know also feel the same. But hey, if it fits your ears especially well, all that changes for that specific person. Fit is big.

 

[Echo42987]

Pe

Perhaps I was too strong. I could certainly listen to it and use it. But the others were better IMHO. Another headfier auditioning at the same time felt the same way and a few others I know also feel the same. But hey, if it fits your ears especially well, all that changes for that specific person. Fit is big.

I do love the Alter Ego and it's one that doesn't come out of my ear often. But the Raven is a completely different style/tuning. Kind of hard to compare the two because of it. The Raven has much deeper/richer/bass and midrange. The AE has a very clean sounding bass but doesn't hit nearly as hard. The AE does win in terms in the Vocals/highs, I would say. But like stated, it's all based on Opinion at the end of the day.

 

[stacey]

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.

Really? I moved on from the Odyssey (Had it since release), but I was under the impression that the Novus had a more impactful bass than what the Odyssey delivered.

 

[UTVOL06]

I've been comparing the Raven and Novus back to back. The BCDs in the Novus 100% hit harder than the Raven's BCD. You feel the physical sensation of the beats a lot more. Also, the Novus' sound is a lot tighter and cleaner sounding to me. Bass hits harder, but is tighter and more in control. Treble details are even better and easier to listen to.also, treble seems a little more pronounced o forward than the Raven at least in the Novus EQ mode. Oh and the Novus EQ setting on the SP3000T definitely improves the control and quality of the sound to my ears. Little tighter and harder hitting bass and cleaner overall sound vs no EQ. Also, the Novus EQ setting pulls the VU meter reading back a good bit. Without Novus EQ the VU meter pushes closer to the region a little before the red. I'd say up to 80-90% max if the Red mark is 100%. Novus EQ brings it way back to I imagine a healthier zone? I don't know much about VU meters and what is healthy or OK?

Thanks

Edit: I just wanted to say that I am a novice when it comes to being able to explain how these premium IEMs sound. I have no training in what I should be listening for when judging sound quality and just go by what I feel essentially.

Also, I know my first above paragraph may sound the opposite, but I completely agree with Bloom Audio's review/analysis of the Novus on YouTube. I'm not sure of what the guys name is but he is pretty good at judging and describing how well or poorly IEMs sound and how they may rank against similar price ranged IEMs.

 

[UTVOL06]

Well, as you know I am partial to the Traillii. However the two IEMs I was referring to that outclassed the Raven were the Alter Ego and the Perpetua. Check them out.

Maybe it's just because you prefer ultra detailed and separated music with more emphasis in the treble region? I have had ultra detailed neutral open back headphones Audeze LCD-4z and I 100% prefer my Raven or Novus to those.

 

[phiemon]

I've been comparing the Raven and Novus back to back. The BCDs in the Novus 100% hit harder than the Raven's BCD. You feel the physical sensation of the beats a lot more. Also, the Novus' sound is a lot tighter and cleaner sounding to me. Bass hits harder, but is tighter and more in control. Treble details are even better and easier to listen to.also, treble seems a little more pronounced o forward than the Raven at least in the Novus EQ mode. Oh and the Novus EQ setting on the SP3000T definitely improves the control and quality of the sound to my ears. Little tighter and harder hitting bass and cleaner overall sound vs no EQ. Also, the Novus EQ setting pulls the VU meter reading back a good bit. Without Novus EQ the VU meter pushes closer to the region a little before the red. I'd say up to 80-90% max if the Red mark is 100%. Novus EQ brings it way back to I imagine a healthier zone? I don't know much about VU meters and what is healthy or OK?

Thanks

Very interesting what you write, thank you for that!

Do I understand correctly that Raven has this compared to Novus…?

more subbass -> Novus is tighter
less midbass -> Novus hits harder
less treble extension and quantity -> Novus is more pronounced / forwards and cleaner

So Raven is darker, warmer and ticker? Further, both seem to be complementary rather than competitive, right?

 

[UTVOL06]

Very interesting what you write, thank you for that!

Do I understand correctly that Raven has this compared to Novus…?

more subbass -> Novus is tighter
less midbass -> Novus hits harder
less treble extension and quantity -> Novus is more pronounced / forwards and cleaner

So Raven is darker, warmer and ticker? Further, both seem to be complementary rather than competitive, right?

Your top analysis is what I perceived. I'm just not very good at analysis of sound profiles and knowing the right words to describe them. I just describe what I perceived between the two. Yes, Raven seems warmer for sure. I believe they do compliment one another as well. I feel like the Novus is another notch higher in sound quality overall and where it sits compared to other IEMs in this price range, but the Raven is no slouch either. Oh and the Novus' build quality solid and top notch. You can definitely see Astell&Kern's influence on the style of the shell and end cap. It imbues opulence and strength.

Edit: just wanted to add I used the SednaEarfit Crystal Standard eartips in place of the Final E eartips that come with the package on the Novus. It actually seemed to fit a little more snugly in my ears than my Raven with the same tips. It could just be on equal footing in terms of fit between the two. I didn't notice any difference in comfort between either IEMs. I have to use the Medium size eartip in the Crystal Standard eartips.

 

[stacey]

I've been comparing the Raven and Novus back to back. The BCDs in the Novus 100% hit harder than the Raven's BCD. You feel the physical sensation of the beats a lot more. Also, the Novus' sound is a lot tighter and cleaner sounding to me. Bass hits harder, but is tighter and more in control. Treble details are even better and easier to listen to.also, treble seems a little more pronounced o forward than the Raven at least in the Novus EQ mode. Oh and the Novus EQ setting on the SP3000T definitely improves the control and quality of the sound to my ears. Little tighter and harder hitting bass and cleaner overall sound vs no EQ. Also, the Novus EQ setting pulls the VU meter reading back a good bit. Without Novus EQ the VU meter pushes closer to the region a little before the red. I'd say up to 80-90% max if the Red mark is 100%. Novus EQ brings it way back to I imagine a healthier zone? I don't know much about VU meters and what is healthy or OK?

Thanks

If that’s the case that sounds a lot more like the Raven prototype that I listened to last year before its actual release. I’m looking forward to trying out the Novus soon.


Also don’t you feel that Novus and Raven are a little too similar to justify owning both?

 

[phiemon]

Your top analysis is what I perceived. I'm just not very good at analysis of sound profiles and knowing the right words to describe them. I just describe what I perceived between the two. Yes, Raven seems warmer for sure. I believe they do compliment one another as well. I feel like the Novus is another notch higher in sound quality overall and where it sits compared to other IEMs in this price range, but the Raven is no slouch either. Oh and the Novus' build quality solid and top notch. You can definitely see Astell&Kern's influence on the style of the shell and end cap. It imbues opulence and strength.

Edit: just wanted to add I used the SednaEarfit Crystal Standard eartips in place of the Final E eartips that come with the package on the Novus. It actually seemed to fit a little more snugly in my ears than my Raven with the same tips. It could just be on equal footing in terms of fit between the two. I didn't notice any difference in comfort between either IEMs. I have to use the Medium size eartip in the Crystal Standard eartips.

So if that's the case, then I would certainly prefer Raven. What I find so special about Raven and really love is the sub-bass flow that accompanies the music. I think Raven is already resolving enough and more clarity and treble extension could make it too energetic for me personally.

But somehow that doesn't fit in with what Bloomaudio (@stephenkostas) has written:

"Raven and Novus are very close, but Raven can feel slightly brighter at times, also offering a little less mid bass, and with an overall feeling that Novus is just a little more refined. Novus just feels like it takes every aspect of Raven – from the width of the stage, to the detail in each instrument, to the vividness of the holographic presentation – and turns it up one more notch."

I also find the comparison with the Xe6 unconvincing. Because Raven certainly has a wider and deeper stage than the Xe6 and if Novus is supposed to be even better than Raven here, I can't understand how the Xe6 would be better than Novus in these aspects:

"Xenon6 stands out the most from Novus, trading some of the refinement and control, for power and dynamics. If you’re looking for the harder hitting bass with the sort of detail and imaging you’d expect from a top of the line IEM, Xenon6 delivers. While the soundstage might exceed the width and depth of Novus, the imaging lacks the separation and some of the more intricate detail presentation that Novus offers."

My guess? The SP3000 does not do Raven justice, as it is known to have an AMP section that is too weak.

 

[UTVOL06]

So if that's the case, then I would certainly prefer Raven. What I find so special about Raven and really love is the sub-bass flow that accompanies the music. I think Raven is already resolving enough and more clarity and treble extension could make it too energetic for me personally.

But somehow that doesn't fit in with what Bloomaudio (@stephenkostas) has written:

"Raven and Novus are very close, but Raven can feel slightly brighter at times, also offering a little less mid bass, and with an overall feeling that Novus is just a little more refined. Novus just feels like it takes every aspect of Raven – from the width of the stage, to the detail in each instrument, to the vividness of the holographic presentation – and turns it up one more notch."

I also find the comparison with the Xe6 unconvincing. Because Raven certainly has a wider and deeper stage than the Xe6 and if Novus is supposed to be even better than Raven here, I can't understand how the Xe6 would be better than Novus in these aspects:

"Xenon6 stands out the most from Novus, trading some of the refinement and control, for power and dynamics. If you’re looking for the harder hitting bass with the sort of detail and imaging you’d expect from a top of the line IEM, Xenon6 delivers. While the soundstage might exceed the width and depth of Novus, the imaging lacks the separation and some of the more intricate detail presentation that Novus offers."

My guess? The SP3000 does not do Raven justice, as it is known to have an AMP section that is too weak.

I agree with what the Bloom Audio review says comparing the Raven to the Novus. I'm just not very good at describing the differences in the correct terminology and I don't have any type of audiophile like training to know what yo listen for. If I could restate things I do believe that the Novus is pretty much a more improved Raven and that the BCDs in the Novus are much harder hitting from what I have experienced between the two IEMs. I know the Novus uses two sonion BCDs and im not sure what the Raven uses tech wise with its singular BCD? For whatever reason you can just physically feel the music beats a lot more with the Novus. The Novus to me feels like it's a step above the Raven in terms of IEMs and their prospective tiers in terms of sound quality.

Thanks. I have much to learn here from this forum.

 

[UTVOL06]

If that’s the case that sounds a lot more like the Raven prototype that I listened to last year before its actual release. I’m looking forward to trying out the Novus soon.


Also don’t you feel that Novus and Raven are a little too similar to justify owning both?

They are definitely different enough in terms of sound quality and characteristics to merit owning the Novus if you have the Raven. Raven also seems a little warmer to me. I'm sure the all copper cable on the Raven affects this as well. I love both of these IEMs. I also feel like my Raven will be more of a daily driver given how much more expensive the Novus is and more flashy with its gold platting.

 

[smirks_audio]

Anyone know where I can find a frequency response of Novus?

 

[UTVOL06]

Anyone know where I can find a frequency response of Novus?

I'm not sure if one has been posted yet. I've only seen the two reviews thus far from Bloom audio and moon-audio. Bloom audio is a much better review though.