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Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Incredibly clear and detailed sound, offering a transparent window into the music
- Well-defined, punchy, and high-quality bass response, with good impact and rumble, without being muddy
- Smooth and well-defined treble, avoiding sibilance or harshness, and retaining excellent resolution
- Broad and deep soundstage with excellent imaging, layering, and separation of instruments
- Visually striking and beautiful Bifrost faceplate design
Product Considerations
- The fit may be uncomfortable for users with smaller ears, as the stem is quite wide and the monitors themselves are fairly large
- Upper mid-range can be forward, and at times can be borderline shouty or fatiguing in some tracks
- Treble response, while detailed, might be a little relaxed for some, not cutting through as much as some other IEMs
- Some reviewers found the build quality of the resin shell to be just okay, not feeling particularly premium or durable relative to the price
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs. 64 Audio U12T: The Odin has better punch and slam in the bass, while the U12T has a more layered and separated sound with slightly more micro-details
- Vs. Empire Ears Legend X: The Odin is much more balanced and refined compared to the bass-heavy Legend X
- Vs. Fir M5: The M5 has a more forward and clearer treble response and wider soundstage, but the Odin's midrange is more forward and produces a more enjoyable vocal response
- Vs. Empire Ears Zeus: The Odin is smoother with more bass response and a better mid range
- Vs. Vision Ears Elysium: The Elysium brings an analog-like ease to the midrange, but is not a match for the Odin in detail and transient speed
Takeaway: The Empire Ears Odin is a technically impressive IEM with a smooth, clear sound, detailed bass and a striking design. If one is seeking a high-end listening experience where details are clearly displayed in an immersive 3D stage, these could be a great match.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
Odin (Custom)
reviews
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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Drivers: 11 Proprietary Drivers (2 W9+ Subwoofers, 5 Balanced Armature, 4 Electrostatic)
- Impedance: 3 Ohms @ 1kHz
- Frequency Response: 5 Hz - 100kHz
- Sensitivity: 108dB @ 1kHz, 1mW
- Cable: Stormbreaker UPOCC Copper Litz Cable, Quad Conductor Dual Gauge Design
Description
For these individuals who inspire greatness, only the purest formulation of Empire Ears will do; an icon like no other. An IEM that stands alone - so superlative as to be named after the god of wisdom, poetry, death, divination and magic. Odin has arrived. Its beauty leaves no room for doubt. Its power cannot be reasoned with. Unquestionably, Odin sits at the pinnacle of the Empire Ears bloodline as our most legendary flagship in-ear monitor ever.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Empire Ears IEMs often employ a multi-driver hybrid design, combining dynamic drivers for bass, balanced armatures for mids and highs, and sometimes electrostatic drivers for enhanced treble, all managed by a complex crossover network.
- The brand's proprietary Weapon IX or W9+ dynamic drivers, known for their innovative bass-reflex system, consistently deliver a powerful, impactful, and well-textured bass response.
- They offer a high degree of customization for their custom IEMs, including a wide variety of faceplate materials, shell colors, and logo options, allowing customers to create a personalized aesthetic design.
Select products
Select product comparisons
ESR MKII Universal
- Positioning: A balanced, cost-effective universal option designed for everyday listening.
- Description: Features a hybrid 5-driver design that provides clear mids and precise highs, making it suitable for small rooms and regular use. Compared to higher-tier products, its performance and functionality meet basic needs without the advanced features found in models like the Odin MKII or custom versions.
Triton
- Positioning: A versatile universal in-ear engineered for improved tonal balance and dynamic sound.
- Description: Features a refined acoustic chamber and enhanced bass tuning that deliver richer sub-bass and more defined treble. When compared with the ESR MKII Universal, it shows better low-end performance while remaining more affordable than the flagship Odin models.
Odin MKII
- Positioning: A flagship universal offering tuned for precision and a wide, controlled soundstage.
- Description: Features a quad-bridge balanced-armature system combined with a dynamic bass driver, resulting in detailed, expansive audio reproduction.
Odin Custom
- Positioning: A premium custom-fit in-ear focused on delivering tailored sound and an optimized seal.
- Description: Features a multi-driver configuration with a custom design that enhances sound accuracy and comfort. In comparison to the universal Odin MKII, it offers a personalized listening experience.
ESR MKII Custom
- Positioning: The top-tier custom solution providing advanced technology and best-in-class personalized performance.
- Description: Uses an upgraded 5-driver hybrid design, blending triple balanced armatures with dual electrostatics to achieve outstanding clarity and speed. When compared to other models in the lineup, it stands out for its superior technology.
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Avg. Product Price
$2,501-$5,000
Used For Sale
0
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
779
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
10
Founding Year
2015
Our take on the brand
Empire Ears is a hifi audio brand best known for headphones featuring their proprietary Weapon IX 9mm rare-earth magnet "subwoofers" with bass-reflex systems. The company hand-builds synX crossover networks without PCBs, assigning more individual audio bands per driver than any other IEM crossover. They also developed EIVEC electrostatic control to integrate EST drivers with dynamic and balanced armature drivers.
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
From our interview with
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Used
Empire Ears
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What if you spend more?
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oBravo
Ra-c-cu (21.5)
9722
9722
/
6
Reviews
oBravo is a hifi headphone and IEM brand recognized for its coaxial two-way architecture that places AMT tweeters at the acoustic center of dynamic drivers, creating speaker-like scale and separation in headphones. The brand features user-tunable airflow systems, aggressive miniaturization of AMT technology, and semi-open voicing that delivers amphitheater-scale staging rarely found in in-ear designs.
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Product Strengths
- Build quality is sensational, handmade in Taiwan, and has thousands of man hours put into it
- The kit has detachable clickable connections, and high-quality pure copper cables
- Comes with accessories such as replacement parts for the earbuds, and adapters (3.5, 4.4 for balance, and 2.5 balance)
- Accessories are beautifully made with wood and good hinges
- The product features a two-way speaker system inside an earbud
Product Considerations
- It demands good, abundant power to be driven, due to its specifications of 93dB sensitivity, and 182 Ohms
- Needs to be burned-in (driven) for no less than 200 hours, and most possibly 300 hours
- The stock cable has tiny connectors which make it very difficult to connect any wire beyond 26-28awg
- The outer packaging box seems to be a reformed cardboard box, which is huge and white, and may not be durable in the long run
- The proprietary MMCX-designed connectors means the cable’s tiny connectors make it very difficult to connect any wire beyond 26-28awg and perhaps a very thin 2 or 4 wire at best
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The oBravo RA-C-CU excels versus the Vision Ears EVE2020 across every parameter, though there is a warmth across the EVE’s midrange via its dynamic driver, that moves it to, at least, competitive with the RA-C-CU and its Neodymium Dynamic Driver
- There were no aspects between the Vision Ears ELYSIUM and the oBravo RA-C-CU where the oBravo did not excel
- The oBravo RA-C-CU extends a competitive advantage across all relevant parameters from bass extension to treble extension to transparency to a coherency that holds together through the most complex and dynamic passages to a more expansive soundstage, compared to the oBravo EAMT-2C
Takeaway: The Ra-c-cu (21.5) is a very well-made earbud that gives a sensational listening experience like high-end speakers in one's ears. If one wants to treat oneself with serious earbuds where money is not a problem, this is the way to go.
Video review
Our take on the brand
oBravo is a hifi headphone and IEM brand recognized for its coaxial two-way architecture that places AMT tweeters at the acoustic center of dynamic drivers, creating speaker-like scale and separation in headphones. The brand features user-tunable airflow systems, aggressive miniaturization of AMT technology, and semi-open voicing that delivers amphitheater-scale staging rarely found in in-ear designs.
Product Page
Product Page
Subtonic Audio
Storm
5200
5200
/
4
Reviews
Subtonic Audio is a hifi headphone brand recognized for their SLAM dual-armature woofer system, delivering bass extension down to 3 Hz, and their complex 7-way CTRL crossover that splits signals into narrow bands for precise control. Their flagship Storm IEMs showcase hand-enameled faceplates with a two-thirds rejection rate.
Expand Details
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Considered by many as having the best sound achievable in an in-ear headphone, making it an exceptional audio experience
- The sound signature is mostly balanced with tasteful coloration, where the treble imparts a particular element that is potentially preferable
- The midrange is extremely well done
- Features unique SLAM subwoofer, woofer, midwoofer, mid tweeter, tweeter and EST technologies
- Built with Grade 5 titanium, providing sturdiness and high quality
Product Considerations
- Treble performance can be hit or miss depending on the listener's anatomy and HRTF
- Requires more power than typical IEMs, potentially draining the battery of portable audio players
- Shells are on the larger side
- The included cable is nice, but the chin cinch tends to slide down
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the Hi-Senior Megafest and Dusk Default DSP, the Storm is an editorialized or enhanced version of those IEMs, particularly regarding bass and mids
- Compared to the 64 Audio U6T, it has similar balance with similar tasteful colorations, but Storm's bass is more punchy and the upper treble is more to the reviewer's preference
- Compared to the Empire Ears Odin, the Storm is preferred because the Odin is not as versatile, and the Storm sounds more detailed
- Compared to the Empire Ears Raven, the Storm is more normal in a good way because the Raven has massive bass and a strange lower midrange resonance feature
- Resolution, stage and tonality are better on the Storm compared to Grand Maestro
Takeaway: The Storm is a high-end IEM with exceptional sound quality and great build, even if pricey. It could be worth buying for those who want the best possible audio experience and appreciate a balanced sound with unique features.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Subtonic Audio is a hifi headphone brand recognized for their SLAM dual-armature woofer system, delivering bass extension down to 3 Hz, and their complex 7-way CTRL crossover that splits signals into narrow bands for precise control. Their flagship Storm IEMs showcase hand-enameled faceplates with a two-thirds rejection rate.
Product Page
Product Page
oBravo
Ra-c (21.5)
9722
9722
/
3
Reviews
oBravo is a hifi headphone and IEM brand recognized for its coaxial two-way architecture that places AMT tweeters at the acoustic center of dynamic drivers, creating speaker-like scale and separation in headphones. The brand features user-tunable airflow systems, aggressive miniaturization of AMT technology, and semi-open voicing that delivers amphitheater-scale staging rarely found in in-ear designs.
Expand Details
Video review
Our take on the brand
oBravo is a hifi headphone and IEM brand recognized for its coaxial two-way architecture that places AMT tweeters at the acoustic center of dynamic drivers, creating speaker-like scale and separation in headphones. The brand features user-tunable airflow systems, aggressive miniaturization of AMT technology, and semi-open voicing that delivers amphitheater-scale staging rarely found in in-ear designs.
Product Page
Product Page
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Unique Melody
Mason FS Soleil Tombé
8499
8499
/
3
Reviews
Unique Melody is a hifi audio brand best known for designs that pioneered bone conduction technology in IEMs. The brand combines advanced materials such as silver-palladium alloy bone conduction drivers with 27 ceramic layers and titanium shells. They also created early planar magnetic IEMs and popularized quadbrid driver configurations that combine dynamic, balanced armature, electrostatic, and bone conduction drivers.
Expand Details
Product Strengths
- Fuller body smooth analog tonality and a neutrally balanced sound signature
- Naturally resolving treble
- Expanded soundstage
- Beautiful, exotic material shells and premium leather accessories
- Very light weight
Product Considerations
- The high price is a significant consideration
- Performance is source pair-up dependent
- The included PWA First Times Shielding Pro cable has some microphonics
- Shells are a little bigger in comparison to previous Mason FS models and MM/AP models from Mentor-series
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Unique Melody Amber Pearl, the Soleil Tombé has less bass and is more neutral, allowing for clearer mids compared to the Amber Pearl's stronger bass presence
- Vs U12T, the Mason FS has better bass impact and texture, while the Mason FS also presents vocals as warmer and fuller, with more atmosphere, while the U12T presents a very clean and clear sound, though it is less energetic
- Vs Noble Onyx, the Mason FS is warmer, while the Onyx has a larger, more open sound, though the Onyx can be clearer in higher registers but loses clarity in lower registers compared to Mason FS
- Vs UM Mason FS Le Jardin (LJ), the 2024 model is just $499 more
Takeaway: The Mason FS Soleil Tombé is a very good-looking IEM that provides a unique listening experience with balanced sound and beautiful mids. It is for people that want something different than other products in the market.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Unique Melody is a hifi audio brand best known for designs that pioneered bone conduction technology in IEMs. The brand combines advanced materials such as silver-palladium alloy bone conduction drivers with 27 ceramic layers and titanium shells. They also created early planar magnetic IEMs and popularized quadbrid driver configurations that combine dynamic, balanced armature, electrostatic, and bone conduction drivers.
Product Page
Product Page
What competes at this price?
Empire Ears
Legend Evo (Universal)
3099
/
Released
2021
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.
Empire Ears is a hifi audio brand best known for headphones featuring their proprietary Weapon IX 9mm rare-earth magnet "subwoofers" with bass-reflex systems. The company hand-builds synX crossover networks without PCBs, assigning more individual audio bands per driver than any other IEM crossover. They also developed EIVEC electrostatic control to integrate EST drivers with dynamic and balanced armature drivers.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Excellent technical performance and detail retrieval, considered several cuts above other IEMs
- Outstanding imaging performance, with precise soundstage and instrument separation
- The bass response is a highlight, delivering a punchy sub-bass with texture and articulation
- Offers a warmer tonal balance that is easy to get into with a mostly 'neutral' sound
- Bone conduction enhances low-frequency extension, reverb, and detail
Product Considerations
- Large chassis that may be uncomfortable for some users, particularly those with smaller ears
- The subdued treble range may not provide enough energy and sparkle for some listeners
- Stock cable is lackluster in terms of usability due to its plasticky feel, rigidity, and microphonic feedback
- Driver flex (a harmless crinkling sound upon insertion) is present
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Legend Evo delivers a stronger bass impact, depth, and extension than the Legend X
- Legend Evo produces better constructed highs than the Legend X
- Legend Evo shows better clarity than the Legend X, and has more detail
- The Legend X can sound veiled concerning the Legend Evo
- The Legend Evo feels a touch smoother than the Empire Ears ODIN
Takeaway: The Legend Evo is a top-tier IEM with innovative bone conduction technology that creates a unique and immersive listening experience with enhanced bass. It is a great option for those seeking flagship-level performance with a warm, bass-focused sound signature.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Empire Ears is a hifi audio brand best known for headphones featuring their proprietary Weapon IX 9mm rare-earth magnet "subwoofers" with bass-reflex systems. The company hand-builds synX crossover networks without PCBs, assigning more individual audio bands per driver than any other IEM crossover. They also developed EIVEC electrostatic control to integrate EST drivers with dynamic and balanced armature drivers.
Product Page
Product Page
Empire Ears
Odin (Universal)
3399
/
Released
2020
For these individuals who inspire greatness, only the purest formulation of Empire Ears will do; an icon like no other. An IEM that stands alone - so superlative as to be named after the god of wisdom, poetry, death, divination and magic. Odin has arrived. Its beauty leaves no room for doubt. Its power cannot be reasoned with. Unquestionably, Odin sits at the pinnacle of the Empire Ears bloodline as our most legendary flagship in-ear monitor ever.
Empire Ears is a hifi audio brand best known for headphones featuring their proprietary Weapon IX 9mm rare-earth magnet "subwoofers" with bass-reflex systems. The company hand-builds synX crossover networks without PCBs, assigning more individual audio bands per driver than any other IEM crossover. They also developed EIVEC electrostatic control to integrate EST drivers with dynamic and balanced armature drivers.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Tremendous transparency, offering a wealth of microdynamics and spatial cues, critical in determining positioning and layering.
- Incredibly clear sound, yet wrapped in a warm, lush, and inviting overall picture.
- Highs are extended, detailed, and wonderfully resolved, easily able to summon the ethereal or holographic when called for.
- The soundstage is quite impressive—deep, wide, with very good headroom, and holographic when called to be so.
- The shell design is comfortable with a short nozzle, and light weight.
Product Considerations
- The treble is a little bit relaxed, and some songs may not cut through the way they need to.
- Amplifiers for this particular headphone are going to matter, and they are going to make a difference between several different amplifiers.
- The bass does not bring the rumble, nor the impact, nor does it reach to the stygian depths of the Holy-Bass-Head-Grail.
- Though the Odin provides for a comfortable fit, it can be uncomfortable for people who have really small ear holes, as the stem itself is quite wide.
- The 'Bifröst' faceplate design might be too flashy for some.
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Empire Ears Zeus: The Odin smashes the Zeus all day, every day, for sound quality, with a better midrange and significantly nixed highs.
- Vs 64 Audio U12T: Odin is at least as good, if not better, in the mids and the bass, and has better punch and slam to the bass frequencies.
- Vs Empire Ears Legend X: The Odin is a much more balanced-tuned IEM.
- Vs 64 Audio Tia Forte: The Odin has a more agreeable frequency response.
- Vs Thieaudio Monarch: The Monarch has a really nice bass shelf, but the Odin has better technical performance and a better frequency response.
Takeaway: The Empire Ears Odin offers an easygoing listening experience and clear sound, and has tight bass response with a great midrange. It could be a great choice for those seeking a warm IEM with finesse.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Empire Ears is a hifi audio brand best known for headphones featuring their proprietary Weapon IX 9mm rare-earth magnet "subwoofers" with bass-reflex systems. The company hand-builds synX crossover networks without PCBs, assigning more individual audio bands per driver than any other IEM crossover. They also developed EIVEC electrostatic control to integrate EST drivers with dynamic and balanced armature drivers.
Product Page
Product Page
Empire Ears
Raven
3599
/
Released
2023
In December 2022, we presented the world with Project RAVEN at the prestigious Portable Audio Festival in Tokyo, Japan—a landmark moment in our journey of innovation. Following its grand debut, the RAVEN embarked on a global tour from the bustling metropolis of New York to the vibrant city-state of Singapore, making illustrious appearances at major trade shows such as CanJam and AXPONA. Each stop on this journey was not just a showcase, but an opportunity to shape the RAVEN into an unparalleled IEM, driven by an invaluable variable—customer feedback.
Empire Ears is a hifi audio brand best known for headphones featuring their proprietary Weapon IX 9mm rare-earth magnet "subwoofers" with bass-reflex systems. The company hand-builds synX crossover networks without PCBs, assigning more individual audio bands per driver than any other IEM crossover. They also developed EIVEC electrostatic control to integrate EST drivers with dynamic and balanced armature drivers.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers an explosive, amazing, and enjoyable sound
- Extraordinary bass that is thunderous when needed, but not bass-heavy, with amazing mids and trebles that do not overpower each other
- Excellent lateral width to its soundstage, top-tier layering, and a strong sense of center image
- Provides excellent vocal dynamics; whether intimate, epic, whispered or shouted, everything sounds natural with everything in its place
- Captures the almost over the top intensity of Odin, but also offers more weight, thickness, and a touch more realism
Product Considerations
- The Raven is a very large IEM, which may be uncomfortable for those with smaller ears
- The treble has a strong emphasis on lower-treble, leading to a distinctive, dry “chhh” on percussive hits, which can be fatiguing at louder volumes
- There are clear distinctions between its bass, midrange, and treble wherein it sounds like they are being handled by different driver types
- The Raven has a bass-centric tuning where the mid-bass is the most forward frequency
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to Empire Ears Odin: The Raven's bone conduction driver gives it an edge in bass extension and in the general texture and balance of the bass
- Compared to Elysian Annihilator 2023: Has a wider soundstage, while the Annihilator sounds sharper, faster, and more detailed due to its thinner midrange and nearly linear treble response
- Compared to Empire Ears EVO: Sub-bass depth and extension is similar between the two, however the Raven has slightly more forwardness in the mid-bass
- Compared to Noble Viking Ragnar: The Raven captures its greater weight and body, but opts for a little more bass, while Ragnar opts for more treble
Takeaway: The Raven provides an engaging and immersive experience that will allow one to fully enjoy their music. It will put you in your own little world, where nothing gets out or in.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Empire Ears is a hifi audio brand best known for headphones featuring their proprietary Weapon IX 9mm rare-earth magnet "subwoofers" with bass-reflex systems. The company hand-builds synX crossover networks without PCBs, assigning more individual audio bands per driver than any other IEM crossover. They also developed EIVEC electrostatic control to integrate EST drivers with dynamic and balanced armature drivers.
Product Page
Product Page
Empire Ears
Odin MKII
4299
/
Released
2025
In the old stories, Odin, the relentless seeker of wisdom and god of poetry, drifted between realms in his many disguises, sharing stories and bestowing inspiration upon all who would listen. With a mischievous smile he wove riddles of runes and whispered truths, revealing the beautiful secrets of our world. ODIN MKII revels in that same spirit of masterful, profound whimsy; every nuance reveals a secret that draws you deeper into the ever-unfolding tapestry that is music. The moment you hear ODIN MKII, all else vanishes, leaving only euphoria.
Empire Ears is a hifi audio brand best known for headphones featuring their proprietary Weapon IX 9mm rare-earth magnet "subwoofers" with bass-reflex systems. The company hand-builds synX crossover networks without PCBs, assigning more individual audio bands per driver than any other IEM crossover. They also developed EIVEC electrostatic control to integrate EST drivers with dynamic and balanced armature drivers.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Video review
Our take on the brand
Empire Ears is a hifi audio brand best known for headphones featuring their proprietary Weapon IX 9mm rare-earth magnet "subwoofers" with bass-reflex systems. The company hand-builds synX crossover networks without PCBs, assigning more individual audio bands per driver than any other IEM crossover. They also developed EIVEC electrostatic control to integrate EST drivers with dynamic and balanced armature drivers.
Product Page
Product Page
Noble
Viking Ragnar (Universal Fit)
4000
/
Released
2022
The Viking Ragnar is a universal in-ear monitor utilizing a premium 10-driver tribrid architecture: two 10 mm dynamic drivers, four Knowles balanced armatures, and four electrostatic drivers. It’s housed in CNC-machined aluminum shells with Damascus stainless steel faceplates by Chris Ploof and includes the Magnus 4 Graphene/Silver cable with 4.4 mm balanced termination.
Noble is a hifi audio brand built around founder Dr. John "Wizard" Moulton, an audiologist renowned for hand-carving custom earphones from exotic materials like wood, carbon fiber, and aluminum instead of standard acrylic, with each ear requiring up to 30 hours to complete. The brand distinguishes itself by using bone conduction drivers across multiple models and bringing rare metallurgical techniques like Japanese Mokume-Gane and titanium Damascus to earphone faceplates.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Excellent detail retrieval, resolving with the best over-ear headphones, challenging the brain to take it all in.
- Wide soundstage with precise imaging, creating an immersive, holographic 3D image.
- Easy to drive, delivering speed and impact even with low-power sources.
- High level of craftsmanship and build quality, using premium materials like CNC-machined aluminum and Damascus steel faceplates.
- Comes with the Magnus cable, a high-quality 8-core cable constructed with graphene, monocrystalline silver, and copper-silver alloy.
Product Considerations
- Treble can become a bit hot and fatiguing over long periods, but can be mitigated by using foam ear tips.
- Bass presence is more nominal and cohesive, not dominant or overpowering like some bass-head IEMs.
- Fit may be an issue for some due to the larger-than-average size of the IEM.
- Could be fatiguing over time due to sensory overload from extreme detail.
- Some reviewers found that the upper mids/lower treble frequency range could use a little boost.
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Offers a stronger balance of detail, performance, and musicality, a fuller, richer midrange, and better texture and timbre, when compared to the Empire Ears Odin—Odin has stronger holographic separation, an intense sense of vocal performance, and more potential for fatigue.
Takeaway: The Noble Viking Ragnar is a top-tier IEM, offering incredible detail and a wide soundstage for an immersive listening experience. Its build quality and design are exceptional, making it a great choice for those who want some of the best IEMs in the market.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Noble is a hifi audio brand built around founder Dr. John "Wizard" Moulton, an audiologist renowned for hand-carving custom earphones from exotic materials like wood, carbon fiber, and aluminum instead of standard acrylic, with each ear requiring up to 30 hours to complete. The brand distinguishes itself by using bone conduction drivers across multiple models and bringing rare metallurgical techniques like Japanese Mokume-Gane and titanium Damascus to earphone faceplates.
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