Legend EVO - Dual Conduction In-Ear Monitor
Sep 3, 2021 at 3:36 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 77
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LEGEND EVO

NEXT GENERATION DUAL CONDUCTION IN-EAR MONITOR



The story of the Legend EVO is one of revolution. Free from the constraints of convention and empowered by the skills gained from decades of experience, we knew that in order to develop a proper successor we had to take extraordinary new measures.

With a pioneering Dual Conduction Architecture and 8 driver tribrid system at its core the Legend EVO emits unprecedented levels of innovation and performance to create a new benchmark in the IEM industry.

The Legend EVO stands as the paragon of technical brilliance and it represents the boldest expression of Empire Ears.





TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Dual W9+ Subwoofers

Five Precision Balanced Armatures

Weapon X Bone Conduction Ultra Driver

9-Way synX Crossover Network

Dual Conduction Architecture

ARC Resonance Mitigation Technology

Impedance: 4.5 Ohms @ 1kHz

Frequency Response: 5Hz-35kHz

Sensitivity: 103dB @ 1kHz, 1mW

Empire X PWAudio "GENESIS" Ultra Pure OCC Copper Cable, 4.4 Pentaconn Termination

THE SCIENCE OF HEARING

When you look at our hearing system you can break it down into 3 different regions: the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. Air conduction utilizes all 3 as sound is collected by the outer ear and directed along the ear canal into the ear drum, vibrating the bones of hearing (ossicles) in the middle ear to stimulate the hair cells inside of your cochlea in the inner ear. This stimulation creates electrical nerve impulses which are then carried to the brain by the auditory nerve to be converted into sound.

Bone conduction completely bypasses the outer and middle ear components by sending vibrations directly through the skull to stimulate the hair cells inside of your cochlea. Through bone conduction we can perceive ultrasonic hearing (beyond 20kHz) Bone conduction is generally perceived to have a lower, deeper tone because the skull conducts lower frequencies more efficiently than air.

DUAL CONDUCTION ARCHITECTURE

The Legend EVO fully exploits the best of both worlds with its pioneering Dual Conduction Architecture. A full range 5Hz-20kHz frequency response is delivered via air conduction from the dual W9+ subwoofers and 5 balanced armatures while imaging, soundstage, detail retrieval, low frequency extension and reverb is extraordinarily enhanced from 5Hz-35kHz via bone conduction from the W10.

Through the Dual Conduction Architecture and our masterful tuning the Legend EVO reproduces the most immersive, pure and stereophonic sound possible.

THE WEAPON X BONE CONDUCTION ULTRA DRIVER




When designing the most formidable bone conduction driver ever used in an IEM, it was of utmost important to carefully and thoroughly evaluate every facet of the W10 to ensure that no stone was left unturned. Every element of the W10 is hand selected, designed and vigorously tested for optimal bone conductivity performance.

Stainless Steel Chassis

The W10’s ultra robust nickel plated, SPCC chassis is designed to eliminate any coloration that may occur from internal resonance or flex.

The X Factor

The crown jewel and driving force of the W10 is its obscenely potent N52 neodymium magnet. N52 is the highest grade of neodymium currently available and its DNA consists of neodymium, iron and boron.

The entirety of the W10’s design revolved around this very magnet.

Pure Copper Voice Coil

The voice coil is one of the most important aspects of the W10. When the electrical current of audio signal passes through the coil it creates a varying magnetic field that pushes and pulls against the W10’s magnet. By altering the current back and forth we’re able to generate immense levels of sonic vibrations throughout the W10’s chassis.

The W10 employs a Japanese made pure copper voice coil optimized for accuracy in frequency and transient response. The consistency of winding tension, density of enamel, adhesive application techniques, dimensions and copper compositions were all factors that were essential for linearity, ultra low distortion and efficient heat dissipation.

Resonance & The Vibrational Membrane

The vibrational membrane is the exhaustively engineered interface between the magnetic properties and the acoustic capabilities of the W10. Constructed from steel and laser welded into place, each and every variable was critical during design. From the weight, stiffness and elasticity of the steel to the length and angle of the three cantilevered struts, breaking ground on the world’s most comprehensive and resolving bone conduction driver went beyond a labor of love and well into the realm of obsession.



FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION



The Legend Evo pays homage to its predecessor, donning its minimalist appearance and classic color scheme but a closer look at the details reveals that all was honed around extraordinary, groundbreaking performance.

Dual Tri-Port Exhausts

Due to the nature of the W10’s extreme output the enclosure’s air volume and vent design were especially crucial for proper tuning. Even the slightest change in diameter and positioning had a dramatic effect on sound quality and performance.

By mastering the W10’s volume requirements we’re able to harness its optimal output, capabilities and potential.

ARC Treated Chassis

Any flex in the enclosure walls will have unequal resonant frequencies and by treating the internals in critical areas with ARC we gain control of the room, allowing what gets reflected and/or absorbed. This eliminates any unwanted sound and allows the tone of the drivers to be as pure as possible.

Precision Mounted Weapons

The W10 is strategically ceiling mounted in a specially designed cavity at the top of the shell. This cavity is engineered to keep all sonic vibrations internal, maximizing bone conductivity transfer through the solid-filled ear canal.

Soundproofed Barrier

Low frequency energy causes even some of the most stable materials to resonate which is why we’ve sealed the shell with a custom spec cast polymer to channel the internal sonic vibrations towards listener while reflecting any unwanted energy from the outside.

The Midas Touch

The Legend Evo dons two significant logos in gold: The timeless Empire Wing span to signify our never-ending pursuit of extraordinary and the EVO logo which marks the evolution of IEM technology from Empire Ears.

GENESIS



EMPIRE X PW AUDIO


24AWG Ultra-Pure OCC Copper

Quad Conductor, Polypropylene Reinforced Core

Insulated UV-Resistant Polyvinyl Chloride Sheath

4.4 Balanced Pentaconn Termination



LAUNCH EDITION



The Legend EVO launch edition will include a custom handcrafted, hand dyed leather case by master craftsman Mr. Sangwoo of Vishnu Leather in South Korea. The launch edition will be limited to 400 units.




OFFICIAL DATES

Due to ongoing supplier delays and difficulty of manufacturing EVO we'll only be able to produce a limited quantity in 2021. We anticipate the demand will exceed our capabilities so we highly encourage you to place your pre-orders ASAP to avoid extensive delays.

Pre-Order Opening - 9-10-2021

First Batch Ship Date - 10-8-2021

Second Batch - 11-8-2021

Third Batch - 12-8-2021



MSRP $3,099.00



Official Empire Ears Dealers: https://empireears.com/pages/dealers


**Please keep the discussion in our main thread: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/emp...mpressions-formerly-earwerkz.786335/page-2114



**Please be mindful that several visuals are still absent as it's a work in progress. We appreciate your support and patience. Thanks for your understanding!!**


 
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Sep 3, 2021 at 3:45 PM Post #2 of 77
This is my first impressions post from the Empires Ears thread from Aug 26. It really belongs here, so I am reposting it.

----------------------------

I am in Georgia, so I stopped by Empire Ears to listen to the Legend X EVO. I spent significant time with Dean Vang who told me what he wanted to achieve with the EVO and after listening to it, he told me that I can talk to you about what I heard. The unit I listened to was encased in a black shell without any logos on it yet and was paired with the new PW Audio Cable. The fit was perfect for me and the cable is soft and supple. Dean told me this is the final unit and will be the tuning for the final product which will be launched now next week for shipment later in the Fall. The first thing I did was plug it into my DX300 with AMP12 and it took less than 3 seconds for me to determine I absolutely love this IEM. It is an absolute home run and is a perfect IEM for my tastes and preferences.

This is definitely an IEM that will catch your attention upon your very first listen. I would call it the TOTL Audiophile IEM for bass heads because it has elevated bass like you would expect from an IEM with the brand Legend X. What I heard beyond that is what makes this IEM truly spectacular. It has a huge sound stage, fantastic imaging and more balanced tuning than the Legend X OG. And, the thing I did not expect is that it has a reverberant sound not unlike what I hear with my ZMF Verite Closed headphones. I have never heard anything like this in an IEM and it is truly spectacular. Dean told me that he was trying to achieve a sound like he heard in a Club in Asia with the bass emanating from the floor, but with a tall sound stage where the rest of the instruments can be displayed and not drowned out by the bass. This is what he indeed has achieved. It is so huge that you can easily pick out instruments in the 3 dimensional stage. The punch and slam is so good that anything with a rhythm section sounds fantastic. Modern Pop is a stand out as is big band Jazz, the bass line is very forward and prominent and very natural sounding like you are on stage with the musicians. For those of you wondering whether or not this is an upgrade or complementary monitor to the Legend X, I must say that it is a straight and significant upgrade to the Legend X. If you have the EVO, you do not need the Legend X. I told that to Dean and he said, "sorry." If fact, if you have the Legend X, you may not need the Z1R either because it has the punch and midbass presence and excitement that I love in the Z1R. I did not have time to A/B test it against my Z1R, but after doing it later, I would not be surprised if I find that to be true.

The majority of time, I spent A/B/C testing the EVO with the Odin and the Traillii with my DX300 with AMP and the Cayin C9 with and without tube. Given my preference for great bass, I can honestly say that the EVO was my preferred monitor in almost every genre of music. Where I did not prefer it, I preferred the Odin because it is tuned brighter and mid forward so it has better tuning for classical music and a lot of Jazz music, specifically piano. The advantage that the Bird had in sound stage and coherence is largely eliminated in the EVO and the superior bass response and naturalness of tone is what really struck me. We had a discussion about what the EVO should be priced at. I think it is better than the Odin, so if it is priced below it, it will be a fantastic value. Now, I only had 2 hours with the EVO and its possible that I am experiencing a honeymoon effect with it. That could be true, but one thing I feel pretty confident will remain true. It is the best bass I have ever heard in an IEM. And, when I say that, I mean the bass richness, texture and coherence with the rest of the FR response curve because great bass is useless unless the rest of the music also sounds good.

I am for sure going to buy a Legend X EVO and it will just be another IEM in my collection, but I expect it is going to get a lot of ear time because it hits so many of my personal preferences including perfect bass, fantastic slam and huge sound stage with great imaging and a more balanced frequency response than the original Legend X. I will be very surprised if this isn't a big hit in the market given the legacy of the Legend X. The EVO is a fantastic monitor for carrying forward the Legend X name. Well done, Empire Ears. You have a winner.
 
Sep 3, 2021 at 5:10 PM Post #3 of 77
My body is ready.
 
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Sep 3, 2021 at 5:22 PM Post #5 of 77
Sep 3, 2021 at 5:46 PM Post #7 of 77

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Sep 3, 2021 at 5:56 PM Post #8 of 77
Congrats on the launch guys!
 
Sep 3, 2021 at 5:59 PM Post #9 of 77
wow this is so interesting, looking forward for impressions, this is now on my top to own list
 
Sep 3, 2021 at 9:19 PM Post #14 of 77
They’re taking a page out of Unique Melody’s book with the BC driver.
Totally different driver, that EE developed from the ground up in-house, so “a page,” as in it also has BA drivers like (fill in the blank here).
 

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