[kdphan]

more like an improved Zeus XR.....

Zeus XR doesn’t have dual DD subs though.

 

[IEMusic]

I’m anxiously awaiting a comparison between the EE Hero and the 64 Nio.

Edit: Oh, and an update on the “proper” Monarch.

 

[KuroKitsu]

Zeus XR doesn’t have dual DD subs though.

Bolted on subbass prescence is what he means I'm guessing.

Tork's seal of approval for Odin is interesting.

Still not moving my entire setup to get it. $4500 CAD is no joke even if I don't have to pay taxes.

 

[proedros]

Zeus XR doesn’t have dual DD subs though.

hence the 'improved' term - and if you sell the included cable price falls almost to Zeus XR levels = that makes it bargain to me.

Odin is the first iem that has really piqued my interest since 2017 (when i got Zeus XR)

 

[jenkinsontherun]

Let me chime in to say Earsonics BA IEMs have very good bass implementation in general, maybe the best in my view to date. I own custom EM32 and is a bass monster I really can't believe it's a 3 BA. To give you a better idea, I owned Moondrop A8 and Fearless S8F and their bass although good for a BA is far from EM32 impact and rumble.

I was curious and pulled up the graph for the universal version ES3. It's exactly what I want: sub-bass boost with non-fatiguing treble. The pinna gain is many decibals lower than the valkyrie, which some say is sibilant. Any more comments? A local audio dealer sells the ES3 for a reasonable price. I might pull the trigger if I can get a few more data points. Thanks

 

[dhruvmeena96]

Brand Overview: Empire Ears

Oh, my sweet little Empire. I wasn't a fan of their previous lineup bar Valkyrie mk1. The house tuning tends to have a bass shelf starting from 1khz which often results in a lot of bloat or smear. This time they've turned the tables around a little with their updated flagships and mk2 lineup.

EVR mk2
8 August 2020
This is so colored and far from what I'd call a vocal reference monitor. Tone is ugh. ESR mk2 has a better midrange. They've butchered the tuning of the previous EVR mk1. Really, really odd midrange.

ESR mk2
8 August 2020
A slightly warm, perhaps mid-centric monitor. Really nice and clear, forward vocal range. Bass and lower mids has that typical CI woofer type of midbass hump, showing some signs of bloat and wooliness. Treble is a little dark and does roll off in the top end (>10khz). While my comments may sound pretty unattractive, it shines when everything is put together with the midrange as its anchor. Decent monitor.

Bravado mk2
8 August 2020
Mud

Hero
8 August 2020
Here we see the typical v-shaped Empire house tuning the most with their new lineup. Shrill vocal range with powerful, forward bass. Lots of rumble and it does carry bloat but I would not describe the Hero as muddy. Works with pop genres but I cant help but feel its too unbalanced with many of my other genres.

Odin
8 August 2020
Okay, this is really good. Very well tuned and untypical of Empire Ears since their house sound often leans towards 1khz bass shelves. This one has a much much cleaner bass shelf but still retains lots of subbass. Somewhat like my own v4 target. Due to the lack of bloat (okay, a SMIDGEN of bloat; non-issue), it already sounds cleaner, much more articulate and accurate with the midrange than any Empire out there. Treble is also very even and extends decently. It really does do every genre of mine well with great technical ability. Tuning is seriously solid as a bass boosted neutral IEM. Bass has good tact, though a little too much for my own preferences but it is well balanced out with clean midbass. Midrange and treble I honestly don't have much to critique other than that it sounds normal and natural. High praise.

Easily one of the very best IEMs I've come across so far. Jack & Dean, if you are reading this, keep tuning IEMs like this.

Best review
Bravado - Mud

Made me laugh hard

 

[Raketen]

I was curious and pulled up the graph for the universal version ES3. It's exactly what I want: sub-bass boost with non-fatiguing treble. The pinna gain is many decibals lower than the valkyrie, which some say is sibilant. Any more comments? A local audio dealer sells the ES3 for a reasonable price. I might pull the trigger if I can get a few more data points. Thanks

Haven't used ES3, Earsonics are usually pretty good for avoiding sibilance in my experience (4 models), though your particular sensitivity could be at a different freq than mine (they are somewhat infamous among audiophiles for their sibilance killing 5khz dead area on models like SM64, but some of the more recent models it's not so distinct FWIU).

 

[toranku]

Haven't used ES3 in particular but I've had several of their IEMs, IME Earsonics are usually pretty good for avoiding sibilance (they are somewhat infamous among audiophiles for their 5khz 'null' areas on a lot of iems though the ES3 graph you posted looks not so dramatic, though a little dif).

Earsonics has been a particularly frustrating brand for me. I know that they can tune and that they have a lot of ideas but they consistently and constantly target weird sound signatures.

 

[Raketen]

*apologies for all the edits, double posting glitch compounded by palm rejection failure and a series of editing mistakes to top it off*

+1 they tend to come with decidedly non-standard tunings, though for me it's been the sort of thing I can acclimate to (but I am not super picky- for instance ES2 has a rather noticably incorrect tone... but even so timbre sort of 'feels' right, and w/ the right tips have a pleasant spatial/atmospheric quality for a midcentric IEM... idk, I would never recommend it but also weirdly can't let go of them).

Also tend to come at a big price premium over similarly performing IEMs, which I think is the nail in the coffin for a lot of people (can say the ES-series shells are one of my favorite IEMs ergonomically, though they are somewhat fragile and the smooth slightly narrow nozzle makes tip rolling a bit tricky).

 

[superuser1]

@toranku Just wondering if you have ever heard any of the offerings from NCM from Vietnam?

 

[toranku]

@toranku Just wondering if you have ever heard any of the offerings from NCM from Vietnam?

No, I have not. Never really had the opportunity to

 

[Spie1904]

@toranku Out of curiosity, between Vision Ears VE8 and Pears SH3, which one would you consider to be the more versatile all rounder?
Which one is more suited to listen to orchestral music as well as rock / heavy metal from your experience?
I am easily able to demo ve8 but not so easily able to demo Pears lineup unfortunately

 

[toranku]

@toranku Out of curiosity, between Vision Ears VE8 and Pears SH3, which one would you consider to be the more versatile all rounder?
Which one is more suited to listen to orchestral music as well as rock / heavy metal from your experience?
I am easily able to demo ve8 but not so easily able to demo Pears lineup unfortunately

I favour the SH3's tone more. VE8 is too recessed in the uppermidrange for me.

Buy what you have access to, ideally

 

[toranku]

Noble Brand Overview updated with Sultan.

 

[FastAndClean]

Noble Brand Overview updated with Sultan.

oh no