My summary on Athena V-III. It's got a warm sound signature. But it's got all details that I coukd could ever want while on the go or at home at library or at work.
It comes with a 3.5mm 2 pin cable, useful dust bag for iems. An aegis case and another dust bag and comply and spinfit eartips. However I would not recommend to buy IEMs or any gear in general at this pricepoint until you are guaranteed you want this type of sound signature. I strongly recommend to listen to entry level iems and work your way up if you are still looking for what you like.
The soundstaging for me is still that amphitheater style where you can hear from the stage and up the rows. The crowd is just dead silent there is no hissing or audible noise for Opus #1. It is on low gain at volume 40 to 80 depending on how silent or loud the song is.
It's a very enjoyable and presentable earphone. I honestly never heard the Zeus but how jackpot tells me I'm not missing much except top end extension is most noticeable with slight details on top extension. But athena otherwise sounds extremely close to zeus in a more fun way.
But if someone has money and willpower to achieve that extra definitely they can go for it. I think Athena is where I would stop.
I found my favorite fun earphone past Campfire Lyra II now.
Athena has everything I like to hear in my music with a fun signature. It also copes well with Opus 1. It is not too warm to me.
I love Acrylic shell. Condensation issue is no more like with metal shells. I can listen to extremely long durations without having to use a dry caddy or air compressor to blow out water molecules.
Acrylic shell is very durable from EE. It uses same lacquer scratch resistant acrylic as custom EE variants.
Jackpot told me universal should also sound identical to custom as long as you get a perfect seal. I've had great luck with universals recently!! Athena fits perfectly. I can walk extremely fast and still no seal broken. I can eat drink, etc. Talk on phone.
My favorite things about Athena is the treble is still precise and incredibly well thought out. This is a warm earphone too by the way. Never heard stuff like this. Lyra II treble was smoothed.
But Athena's midsection is smoothed like a sculpted goddesses belly. The vocals male or female (omg need male vocals plz) sounds exactly how I would calculate it from the sound file. It just has a fun tilt to the instruments.
To cut it to a summary
Envision being at a outdoor greek amphitheatre and there is a hill where the stage is located. At the back is stage and props and acoustic vases used to spread vocals and sounds. Above you is the sky and nature around you. The crowds are extremely silent.
Athena can pick up even slightest ambient sound, every motion, every word, each laugh, and each kiss and each smile, each frown.
For cheering audience, for crying audience, for the stoic, for the brave, for the frightened, for the calm.
Athena sings to all. In ambient music. To classical. To post rock. To rap to electronic.
The amphitheatre on Athens dedicated to the goddess Athena. The stage is open to all, music lovers, singers, dancers, common people, to the upper class.
