Many, many thanks to headphones.com for letting me test-drive these IEMs as part of the loaner program. Thanks also to @TylersEclectic for arranging things. I very much appreciate the wonderful opportunity.
One reason why I wanted to hear these IEMs is that I’ve often been flummoxed by the tuning of Empire Ears IEMs. Unlike Campfire Audio or Noble Audio, to give just two examples, Empire Ears IEMs don’t seem to share a common house sound. Instead, they have fairly diverse tunings. I’ve auditioned quite a few of them—the Valkyrie, the Bravado, the Wraith, in particular—and have found each to be quite different. Some were great, others less so. I’d hoped, then, that the Odin would have a tuning I’d like.
While these are immediately appealing IEMs, that appeal is subtle. There aren’t any fireworks - nothing stands out right away as being particularly prominent or distinct or striking. (I’m referring to the sound here, not the shells, which are a bit blingy for my tastes).
The IEMs are surprisingly neutral and natural—for Empire Ears—and they’re nicely balanced. I can’t detect any great, particular emphasis, really. The treble and bass are perhaps lifted slightly. The treble is lovely, very smooth without being peaky or bright. The bass is tight and fast and extends fairly deeply but it’s not as thick or heavy or boomy as some Empire Ears IEMs can be. I suspect the mids are the key to the great sound; they’re nice and coherent, I don’t detect any recessions or odd dips. The tonality is spot on.
The Odin’s qualities, then, become apparent gradually. Beyond the tuning, the technicalities are the Odin’s best feature. These are fairly fast IEMs and they have solid but not especially strong macrodynamics. There isn’t a large soundstage—it’s certainly a step behind the Solaris—and it’s not particularly spacious, either—unlike, say the Andromeda—but the Odin’s staging isn’t overly closed in or congested (for IEMs). Rather, the staging works well because the layering and separation are outstanding. Imaging is a particularly strong suit. So too is the resolution, which is extraordinary. These are highly engaging IEMs.
From my first impressions I’d suggest that the Odin make for a well-balanced and refined sound, one that works for all genres. In fact, and again surprisingly, I’m finding that the Odin work well with a wide range of recordings. They do justice to great recordings, of course, and yet they’re also forgiving of poorly recorded or produced music. The Odin offer an easy, fatigue-free listen.
Best of all, I keep forgetting to listen to music critically. I find myself failing to take note of what I’m hearing. Instead, I keep getting distracted, absorbed in listening to the music. More later!
