Empire Ears - Discussion & Impressions (Formerly EarWerkz)

[Tristy]

Well, I’m going to start by saying I don’t really like either with the Bravado mk2. So additional caveat here is that I don’t really listen using either tip so maybe they’d grow on me more if I spent more time with them.

Fit wise I think they are both fine, but crystals are notably better as they grip really well and don’t ever feel like they are going to budge. With AET07 I struggle to get a consistent seal in my left ear for some reason and the matte finish doesn’t grip that well so I often find them shifting. YMMV.

To me, Crystals accentuate upper mids (and treble) too much and I’m sensitive to that region and it’s quite drastic, making the IEM sound quite bright. I lose a bit of the texture I’m used to in the bass or maybe the pronounced higher frequencies wash over it too much. Not really my cup of tea, but a preference thing really. That being said I may revisit these again with certain types of music in the future.

AET07 - Well, I’m not really a fan. Makes the Bravado sound a bit mushy/dull to me, like they kill certain frequencies in the treble for my hearing and kind of lose a bit of air and stage width. Bass loses a bit of impact. Just sounds a bit bland/lethargic from top to bottom to me.

For what it’s worth my reference is the Spinfit SP100. With these the Bravado mk2 really shines. Bass is so impactful, tight, textured and really let’s the W9+ shine. They also leave the upper mids and treble alone and to me it’s nice and pleasant across the board overall. I guess the main aspect of this IEM is making sure that the bass isn’t affected too much and the other two sets of tips change it too much for me.

I know that spinfits are supposed to bend around slight bends within the ear canal so maybe that’s part of the problem I’m having the other tips.

For what it’s worth I’m using my Shanling M8 + FAW copper series cable (single-ended)

Spinfit's (in their various forms) do seem to be a cut above for me recently on my universal IEM's. I think I just have bends in my ear canals that effect the sound too much with other ear tips. I'm hoping they incorporate their new medical grade materials (slightly stickier) that they use on their new CP100+'s into the other lines like the CP155's and CP500's.... I'm also hoping they come out with a cone, wider bore spinfit at some point! But with their articulation tech.

 

[Auricon]

To me, Crystals accentuate upper mids (and treble) too much and I’m sensitive to that region and it’s quite drastic, making the IEM sound quite bright. I lose a bit of the texture I’m used to in the bass or maybe the pronounced higher frequencies wash over it too much. Not really my cup of tea, but a preference thing really. That being said I may revisit these again with certain types of music in the future.

This has also been my listening experience with new Crystals. Fit is extremely comfortable but I couldn’t not get pass how they accentuated the upper mids and treble shifting my MEST Mk2 + Socrates + 3MAX unbearably bright. Rolling Xelastics and SednaEarFitLight Shorts provided a nice balance with authoritative bass.

 

[lextheimpaler]

EVO pre-ordered. Let the wait begin.

 

[gLer]

Well, I’m going to start by saying I don’t really like either with the Bravado mk2. So additional caveat here is that I don’t really listen using either tip so maybe they’d grow on me more if I spent more time with them.

Fit wise I think they are both fine, but crystals are notably better as they grip really well and don’t ever feel like they are going to budge. With AET07 I struggle to get a consistent seal in my left ear for some reason and the matte finish doesn’t grip that well so I often find them shifting. YMMV.

To me, Crystals accentuate upper mids (and treble) too much and I’m sensitive to that region and it’s quite drastic, making the IEM sound quite bright. I lose a bit of the texture I’m used to in the bass or maybe the pronounced higher frequencies wash over it too much. Not really my cup of tea, but a preference thing really. That being said I may revisit these again with certain types of music in the future.

AET07 - Well, I’m not really a fan. Makes the Bravado sound a bit mushy/dull to me, like they kill certain frequencies in the treble for my hearing and kind of lose a bit of air and stage width. Bass loses a bit of impact. Just sounds a bit bland/lethargic from top to bottom to me.

For what it’s worth my reference is the Spinfit SP100. With these the Bravado mk2 really shines. Bass is so impactful, tight, textured and really let’s the W9+ shine. They also leave the upper mids and treble alone and to me it’s nice and pleasant across the board overall. I guess the main aspect of this IEM is making sure that the bass isn’t affected too much and the other two sets of tips change it too much for me.

I know that spinfits are supposed to bend around slight bends within the ear canal so maybe that’s part of the problem I’m having the other tips.

For what it’s worth I’m using my Shanling M8 + FAW copper series cable (single-ended)

Thanks for the feedback, and appreciate the time taken to talk through your experience with both tips even though you don't use them. For the record I find AET07 superb with LX (in fact they're my go-to with all my IEMs now). To my ears they add clarity to the mids while tightening up and adding punch to the bass. Interesting how the same tips sound so different to different people with the same IEMs. I was only really curious about the Crystals because they get such glowing reviews from so many people, but if they push upper mids/treble that's a no-go for me.

 

[Leviathant]

Thanks for the feedback, and appreciate the time taken to talk through your experience with both tips even though you don't use them. For the record I find AET07 superb with LX (in fact they're my go-to with all my IEMs now). To my ears they add clarity to the mids while tightening up and adding punch to the bass. Interesting how the same tips sound so different to different people with the same IEMs. I was only really curious about the Crystals because they get such glowing reviews from so many people, but if they push upper mids/treble that's a no-go for me.

No probs. Not sure how helpful I was!

Ive not heard LX but my understanding is they have better separation and a wider stage than Bravado mk2. That could explain why I find the AET07 muddy up an IEM that is already slightly dark IEM within only average staging? Maybe I’d hear something different if I was to try them on LX too.

Also, I’ve been loving the SP100 so much that my brain is tuned to how they sound (and everything just feels less veiled now I’ve got them back in). Maybe if I try the AET07s again and leave them on for a week and see how my opinion changes. Although fit has always been a bit of a dealer breaker for me with AET07 (but I blame my left ear there!)

 

[Skullar]

As we are intensely discussing Evo, i will take opportunity to ask for a bit of advice:

What whiskey will synergize best with Evo you recon?

 

[GiullianSN]

As we are intensely discussing Evo, i will take opportunity to ask for a bit of advice:

What whiskey will synergize best with Evo you recon?

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

As we are intensely discussing Evo, i will take opportunity to ask for a bit of advice:

What whiskey will synergize best with Evo you recon?

Definitely Johnny Walker Blue with one of these bad boys

 

[Skullar]

Thank you Gentlemen. I would have said Blue Label i definitely a way to go for me. But i realized that it has been ages since i tasted a good bourbon. Well i still have a month to decide.

 

[aaf evo]

Classy folks. I’ll take some white claws and Vegas bomb shots

 

[feverfive]

Classy folks. I’ll take some white claws and Vegas bomb shots

For me, it would be the "hooker drink" of Red Bull + Grey Goose to keep me up for hours on end listening.

Alas, I likely won't be getting the EVO.

 

[Wildcatsare1]

Quick question for LX users: has anyone tried both Azla Crsyals and Acostune AET07 tips with LX? And if so, how do they compare in sound and comfort?

I've used both, I prefer the Acoustunes, but I'm using the AE08s.

 

[aaf evo]

For me, it would be the "hooker drink" of Red Bull + Grey Goose to keep me up for hours on end listening.

Alas, I likely won't be getting the EVO.

My go-to when I’m in Vegas

 

[lextheimpaler]

Hot sultry Sunday afternoon in Hong Kong. Cooling off mid bike ride on the southside of the island, listening to the fabulous new album, Black Acid Soul, from Lady Blackbird on my Odins, whilst catching up on Head-Fi.

Wow...people still lug DAPs outside. I gave up on that a long time ago....

 

[CL14715]

As we are intensely discussing Evo, i will take opportunity to ask for a bit of advice:

What whiskey will synergize best with Evo you recon?

Macallan