pedregapop
New Head-Fier
my archangel is arriving today¡¡ can t wait for it
The PENON official thread
- Thread starter Dsnuts
- Start date
Will take a bit to answer that as I haven't spent time with the Archangel yet. Only about an hour so far.
DrewVz
1000+ Head-Fier
I think someone did a quick comparison between Archangel and Shock, but I can't seem to find it. Curious how these two stack up against each other as their sound profiles seem similar.
Caved and ordered the Archangel 
Dsnuts
Headphoneus Supremus
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In the middle of my review I compared them. https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/pe...in-ear-monitor-headphones.28158/review/37991/ You will see a pic of Shock and Archangel.
FalseProphet
100+ Head-Fier
Thanks, that's a great and incisive comparisson! So according to you EBC80 has more midbass and is more organic sounding? Midbass lover here, like weight in vocals and instruments. What about Archangel's switches, not possible to pump more midbass into it? EBC80 is already on a spicy side to me and needs tamming, so Archangel might be too intense.This one goes for anyone here needs a thorough and deep comparison between those 2 MONSTERS OF SOUND REPRODUCTION ....have spent last night listening exclusively to those two sets for more than 4 hours in order to present my findings as follows.......: (take all this with a grain of salt please.....)
Deep Dive Comparison: PENON Archangel vs ISN Audio EBC80
Both IEMs represent the flagship evolution of their respective brands — not just in driver count, but in ambition, tuning complexity, and presentation. Where the EBC80 brought a refined warmth with strong technical chops, the Archangel seems determined to push boundaries in stage, bass articulation, and tonal neutrality, especially via its Bone Conduction + tuning switch setup and Effect Audio partnership.
Let’s break down each key dimension in full depth here......
.......
BASS – Textured Authority vs Musical Weight
- PENON Archangel: The bass is the immediate showstopper — deep-reaching, physical, and viscerally textured. The use of a coaxial PET + Carbon Nanotube dynamic driver coupled with Bone Conduction Drivers (BCD) results in an unapologetically immersive low-end. Sub-bass is felt as much as it is heard, with BCDs adding resonance and body that gives kicks and low synths a tactile thump without mid-bass bleed. Even compared to ISN's bass-forward tuning, Archangel delivers more authority, more impact, and more finesse — a remarkable achievement for a Penon set.
- ISN EBC80: EBC80 also impresses with a full-bodied, rich low-end, but it leans more into mid-bass bloom and warmth, lacking the sub-bass layering and separation dynamics of Archangel. Its BCD is implemented smoothly, but less viscerally, with a more musical bass character than technical bass control.
Winner: Archangel, clearly — more physical, more layered, more technically articulate bass response.
MIDRANGE – Dead Neutral Clarity vs Engaging Warmth
- PENON Archangel: This is not your typical Penon midrange. It’s far more neutral, linear, and uncolored — a refreshing shift for the brand. Vocals emerge clean, dry, and spatially placed, rather than lush or romantic. Instruments appear well-proportioned and unexaggerated, allowing the stage and layering to shine without midrange saturation. For listeners accustomed to Penon’s usual mid-forward lushness (like in the 10th AE), this tuning offers a studio-monitor clarity, revealing the mix rather than romanticizing it.
- ISN EBC80: More in line with the traditional musical mid-centric tuning, EBC80 delivers a warmer, smoother, and slightly colored midrange. Vocals feel more emotional, more forward, with a touch of analog richness. Instruments have that golden glow, which flatters physical timbres but may lack the neutral presentation and depth layering of Archangel.
TREBLE – Airy Sophistication vs Smooth Politeness
- PENON Archangel: The treble is beautifully extended yet silky, with detail retrieval that’s “insane” as you rightly put it. It’s never grainy, never metallic, and fully avoids fatigue. Lower and upper treble are rendered organically, without forced sparkle. The tuning switch also allows you to dial in a touch more energy if needed — a useful feature for adapting to darker sources. Oracle MKIII fans will appreciate the air and brilliance present here, but the natural timbre is the key differentiator.
- ISN EBC80: Treble is gentle, refined, and well-integrated, but less extended and less illuminated compared to Archangel. EST implementation here is focused on smoothness and forgiveness, ideal for long listening sessions, but lacking that airy dimension and micro-detail shimmer that Archangel pulls off effortlessly.
SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING – Gigantic Precision vs Controlled Spaciousness
- PENON Archangel: The true star of the show. The spatial performance is jaw-dropping — front/back, top/bottom, left/right — everything unfolds with dimension, holography, and placement accuracy that surpasses most hybrid/tribrid sets, even at double the price. The BCDs add a tactile layer to spatial boundaries, increasing note weight and realism. You don't just hear instruments — you feel their proximity, distance, and placement in space. This is next-level stage construction.
- ISN EBC80: Also performs admirably here, offering a wide and reasonably deep stage with good left/right spread and layering. Imaging is strong, but not as vertically structured or spatially immersive as Archangel. EBC80 focuses more on cohesion and warmth than dissecting placement.
TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE – Detail, Layering, Dynamics
- PENON Archangel: Offers flagship-tier detail retrieval, astounding separation, and effortless layering, especially across dense mixes and acoustic recordings. Macro-dynamics are explosive when needed, while microdynamics remain fluid and expressive. It’s the most resolving Penon IEM to date, and one of the few that can pull off neutrality without losing musicality.
- ISN EBC80: Technically strong, but more focused on emotional engagement than raw performance. Resolution and detail are good, but not “sharp-edged” — layering is clean, though not three-dimensional in the same way Archangel presents.
Feature PENON Archangel ISN EBC80 Bass Deep, visceral, textured (BCD+DD synergy) Warm, impactful, musical Midrange Dead neutral, layered, accurate Smooth, romantic, emotionally engaging Treble Extended, detailed, fatigue-free Smooth, forgiving, slightly darkened Soundstage Huge, 3D, vertical & horizontal layering Spacious, but flatter and less holographic Imaging Precise, holographic, immersive Clean but more conventional Technicals Flagship-level resolution and layering Strong for its price, more musical Build & Accessories High-end resin shell, Cadmus II cable Solid shell, decent accessories Tuning Flexibility Bass & Treble switches None Best For Stage-focused critical listening, acoustic, ambient, orchestral Vocals, jazz, indie, relaxed music
Final Verdict
PENON Archangel is Penon’s most mature, technically gifted, and spacious-sounding release to date. It manages to merge uncolored neutrality, explosive low-end energy, and expansive staging in a way that few IEMs — even above its price point — can achieve. The EBC80, by contrast, offers musical warmth, colored midrange magic, and smooth, engaging tonality, making it more intimate and emotionally immediate.
If you're after absolute detail retrieval, stage grandeur, and a clean neutral presentation, Archangel is your IEM
If you want lush mids, smooth highs, and rich musicality, EBC80 still holds its ground beautifully.
Both are standouts — but in different sonic worlds.
................And this exactly how much i appreciate PENON's newest set these days...........Archangelic sound that's what this really is........
Last edited:
Sybir
New Head-Fier
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So, which one of mentioned above - Archangel and EBC80 - would present rock/metal better in your opinion?
alexandros a
Headphoneus Supremus
These genres you are reffering to are often associated with piercing highs...plenty of quitars solos etc.. and lots of instruments as well playing over the higher part of the spectrum.... I am sure EBC80 is more appropriate for these kind of recordings due mostly to their superb EST implementation over this part of the spectrum providing a spectacular and completely fatique free treble reproduction suggested for long time listening sessions.. Archangel as @False Prophet guessed correctly is way more intense to its representation... At this case EBC80 serves your library The best I believe..
If by the term weight you re using you mean dimentionality then YES. The main difference difference between them is the way stage / music scene is presented.. EBC80 is way more wide but flat in terms of dimentionality while BCD configuration over the Archangel works wonders in terms of 3D representation of all the instruments / sound cues across the stage providing this way a fuller / complete sound experience overall.. YES... Archangel is the more bass orientated set Meaning The bass response gets to obtaining bones & fleshbinside your head but ends up being more fatique for long term listening always opposite to EBC80 which is more easy going by nature and suitable for many hours of repeating listenings... YES Archangel is by nature more intense... Once you listen to it.. (at stock configuration / both switches down) you instantly understand that you really don't want to mess with the bass switch.. Its more than plenty there... If you know what I mean.... ..
FalseProphet
100+ Head-Fier
Thanks, by weight I meant warmth, midbass which brings tactility to instruments like bass guitar, piano, vocals, so they not only heard but felt as well, fat midbass does it, so you get this sort of tube sound, it is great if there are technicalities to give it more balance so it is not that low fi. So I was wondering if Archangel can be infussed with extra midbass using those switches.These genres you are reffering to are often associated with piercing highs...plenty of quitars solos etc.. and lots of instruments as well playing over the higher part of the spectrum.... I am sure EBC80 is more appropriate for these kind of recordings due mostly to their superb EST implementation over this part of the spectrum providing a spectacular and completely fatique free treble reproduction suggested for long time listening sessions.. Archangel as @False Prophet guessed correctly is way more intense to its representation... At this case EBC80 serves your library The best I believe..
If by the term weight you re using you mean dimentionality then YES. The main difference difference between them is the way stage / music scene is presented.. EBC80 is way more wide but flat in terms of dimentionality while BCD configuration over the Archangel works wonders in terms of 3D representation of all the instruments / sound cues across the stage providing this way a fuller / complete sound experience overall.. YES... Archangel is the more bass orientated set Meaning The bass response gets to obtaining bones & fleshbinside your head but ends up being more fatique for long term listening always opposite to EBC80 which is more easy going by nature and suitable for many hours of repeating listenings... YES Archangel is by nature more intense... Once you listen to it.. (at stock configuration / both switches down) you instantly understand that you really don't want to mess with the bass switch.. Its more than plenty there... If you know what I mean.... ..
alexandros a
Headphoneus Supremus
Believe me.. as i stated over my previous post if you get Archangel there ll be absolutely no reason to turn that bass switch up.. That's what I said earlier... The bass as it is feels overwhelming.. overall it is multi dimentional.. If I really wanted to feel something instead of just listen as you stated then Archangel would be my choise.. The only thing EBC80 does better is treble which feels more extended and less fatique... Its not that Archangel's treble is fatique.... Not at all... As a matter of fact Its a fantastic refined treble but The overall sound signature OF Archangel can get a bit fatique over long listenings... That's it.. But all that is very subjective you know... Archangel shares a lot common ground/DNA with UM MEXT that notion striked me upon first listen.... Both obtaining tremendous depth and height over their spherical stage and dimentionality is their most significant advantage over other sets with Archangel demonstrating the bass in a more visceral manner more impactful than MEXT and in those 2 sets both you simply cannot "bring together " their faceplates (over their shells!!)
Meaning one facing the other (left/right right/left) is simply impossible impossible.. Those 2 behave immediately like trying to collide 2 oppsite poles of a strong magnet!
This is a solid evidence of their unique implementation inside... I am about to post my review any day soon on Penon Archangel and though there ll be plenty/ enough comparisons with different sets /configurations I find no real need to include UM MEXT over there cause its almost like comparing two similar to the bome sets..... But this time I ll go a bit further over my review and suggest (along with the comparisons included) which one suits best each individual taste.... Stay tuned bro...
Epic review!!! Lots of good stuff in the thread!!This one goes for anyone here needs a thorough and deep comparison between those 2 MONSTERS OF SOUND REPRODUCTION ....have spent last night listening exclusively to those two sets for more than 4 hours in order to present my findings as follows.......: (take all this with a grain of salt please.....)
Deep Dive Comparison: PENON Archangel vs ISN Audio EBC80
Both IEMs represent the flagship evolution of their respective brands — not just in driver count, but in ambition, tuning complexity, and presentation. Where the EBC80 brought a refined warmth with strong technical chops, the Archangel seems determined to push boundaries in stage, bass articulation, and tonal neutrality, especially via its Bone Conduction + tuning switch setup and Effect Audio partnership.
Let’s break down each key dimension in full depth here......
BASS – Textured Authority vs Musical Weight
- PENON Archangel: The bass is the immediate showstopper — deep-reaching, physical, and viscerally textured. The use of a coaxial PET + Carbon Nanotube dynamic driver coupled with Bone Conduction Drivers (BCD) results in an unapologetically immersive low-end. Sub-bass is felt as much as it is heard, with BCDs adding resonance and body that gives kicks and low synths a tactile thump without mid-bass bleed. Even compared to ISN's bass-forward tuning, Archangel delivers more authority, more impact, and more finesse — a remarkable achievement for a Penon set.
- ISN EBC80: EBC80 also impresses with a full-bodied, rich low-end, but it leans more into mid-bass bloom and warmth, lacking the sub-bass layering and separation dynamics of Archangel. Its BCD is implemented smoothly, but less viscerally, with a more musical bass character than technical bass control.
MIDRANGE – Dead Neutral Clarity vs Engaging Warmth
- PENON Archangel: This is not your typical Penon midrange. It’s far more neutral, linear, and uncolored — a refreshing shift for the brand. Vocals emerge clean, dry, and spatially placed, rather than lush or romantic. Instruments appear well-proportioned and unexaggerated, allowing the stage and layering to shine without midrange saturation. For listeners accustomed to Penon’s usual mid-forward lushness (like in the 10th AE), this tuning offers a studio-monitor clarity, revealing the mix rather than romanticizing it.
- ISN EBC80: More in line with the traditional musical mid-centric tuning, EBC80 delivers a warmer, smoother, and slightly colored midrange. Vocals feel more emotional, more forward, with a touch of analog richness. Instruments have that golden glow, which flatters physical timbres but may lack the neutral presentation and depth layering of Archangel.
TREBLE – Airy Sophistication vs Smooth Politeness
- PENON Archangel: The treble is beautifully extended yet silky, with detail retrieval that’s “insane” as you rightly put it. It’s never grainy, never metallic, and fully avoids fatigue. Lower and upper treble are rendered organically, without forced sparkle. The tuning switch also allows you to dial in a touch more energy if needed — a useful feature for adapting to darker sources. Oracle MKIII fans will appreciate the air and brilliance present here, but the natural timbre is the key differentiator.
- ISN EBC80: Treble is gentle, refined, and well-integrated, but less extended and less illuminated compared to Archangel. EST implementation here is focused on smoothness and forgiveness, ideal for long listening sessions, but lacking that airy dimension and micro-detail shimmer that Archangel pulls off effortlessly.
SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING – Gigantic Precision vs Controlled Spaciousness
- PENON Archangel: The true star of the show. The spatial performance is jaw-dropping — front/back, top/bottom, left/right — everything unfolds with dimension, holography, and placement accuracy that surpasses most hybrid/tribrid sets, even at double the price. The BCDs add a tactile layer to spatial boundaries, increasing note weight and realism. You don't just hear instruments — you feel their proximity, distance, and placement in space. This is next-level stage construction.
- ISN EBC80: Also performs admirably here, offering a wide and reasonably deep stage with good left/right spread and layering. Imaging is strong, but not as vertically structured or spatially immersive as Archangel. EBC80 focuses more on cohesion and warmth than dissecting placement.
TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE – Detail, Layering, Dynamics
- PENON Archangel: Offers flagship-tier detail retrieval, astounding separation, and effortless layering, especially across dense mixes and acoustic recordings. Macro-dynamics are explosive when needed, while microdynamics remain fluid and expressive. It’s the most resolving Penon IEM to date, and one of the few that can pull off neutrality without losing musicality.
- ISN EBC80: Technically strong, but more focused on emotional engagement than raw performance. Resolution and detail are good, but not “sharp-edged” — layering is clean, though not three-dimensional in the same way Archangel presents.
Feature PENON Archangel ISN EBC80 Bass Deep, visceral, textured (BCD+DD synergy) Warm, impactful, musical Midrange Dead neutral, layered, accurate Smooth, romantic, emotionally engaging Treble Extended, detailed, fatigue-free Smooth, forgiving, slightly darkened Soundstage Huge, 3D, vertical & horizontal layering Spacious, but flatter and less holographic Imaging Precise, holographic, immersive Clean but more conventional Technicals Flagship-level resolution and layering Strong for its price, more musical Build & Accessories High-end resin shell, Cadmus II cable Solid shell, decent accessories Tuning Flexibility Bass & Treble switches None Best For Stage-focused critical listening, acoustic, ambient, orchestral Vocals, jazz, indie, relaxed music
Final Verdict
PENON Archangel is Penon’s most mature, technically gifted, and spacious-sounding release to date. It manages to merge uncolored neutrality, explosive low-end energy, and expansive staging in a way that few IEMs — even above its price point — can achieve. The EBC80, by contrast, offers musical warmth, colored midrange magic, and smooth, engaging tonality, making it more intimate and emotionally immediate.
If you're after absolute detail retrieval, stage grandeur, and a clean neutral presentation, Archangel is your IEM
If you want lush mids, smooth highs, and rich musicality, EBC80 still holds its ground beautifully.
Both are standouts — but in different sonic worlds.
................And this exactly how much i appreciate PENON's newest set these days...........Archangelic sound that's what this really is........
However, I want to dispel hype notions about Archangel...IMHO it is Penons best release under $1000 certainly. But it is not Penons best, which is Rival, and it's not really close. Not even considering the insane level of customization you can do that exceeds Archangel, Shock or anything else out there, its tuning and its drivers are truly the best that Penon has yet released.
Record set straight!!
FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Headphoneus Supremus
You made a very wise caving in. If you're gonna cave, might as well be for something WORTH. EVERY. PENNY.Caved and ordered the Archangel
The EBC80 is slightly better for metal due to the more balanced bass from sub bass to mid bass. The Archangel has come excellent bass, but in terms of cleaner midrange, the EBC80 just has snappier mid bass and cleaner lower mids, so that badly mastered, low-fi, and busy extreme metal tracks, plus double bass/kicks are just a tad bit snappier and cleaner with the EBC80, but it's close, but still.
Kordonrules
100+ Head-Fier
What cable is that?Epic review!!! Lots of good stuff in the thread!!
However, I want to dispel hype notions about Archangel...IMHO it is Penons best release under $1000 certainly. But it is not Penons best, which is Rival, and it's not really close. Not even considering the insane level of customization you can do that exceeds Archangel, Shock or anything else out there, its tuning and its drivers are truly the best that Penon has yet released.
Record set straight!!
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