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Battle of the Bass Gods: Comparison of the Empire Ears Legend Evo with Legend X and Odin
A few days have passed since I got the Legend EVO, and since then it has run for about 50 hours, so it has undergone its first burn-in.
Time to compare the EVO with the other two TOTL (top of the line) in-ears from Empire Ears to compare: The Odin and of course the "sister model" Legend X.
Test sources
- Cayin N6II-Ti
- Cayin N8 + Cayin C9 (Class A + transistor mode)
EVO vs. LX (Legend X)
- requires less Performance as LX
- much better detail and height extension than LX
- more shine in the high frequency range than LX
- Voices are more prominent, natural and sonorous than LX
- significantly more, faster and harder bass than LX!
- much better channel splitting and overlay than LX
EVO vs. Odin
- approximately the same power requirement as Odin
- much, much more bass than Odin
- similar general sound signature as Odin
- Odin is still superior in terms of detail and definition
- Odin is overall more balanced and better suited for long listening sessions
Conclusion after 50 hours of playtime
The sound of the Legend EVO is significantly clearer than that of the original Legend X. The highs and upper mids are broader, and vocals are more prominent and pronounced. In comparison, the Legend X doesn't exactly sound veiled, but it does sound significantly less open and airy than the EVO. The EVO's sound signature is simply much more open, "bigger," and more powerful!
I feel like the Odin and EVO are much more closely related in terms of sound signature than the EVO and LX. I even think the original Legend X and the Legend EVO are very different overall. Aside from the fact that both have more bass than the Odin, I don't see any real relationship between the LX and EVO.
If Empire Ears If we had named the EVO "Thor," son of Odin, I think that would have been more fitting. Thor (EVO) has similar traits/genes to his father, but is younger and wilder, and sometimes over-the-top (BASS!), while Odin is wiser and more controlled, working with more finesse and refinement.
Like Odin, the EVO seems to improve over time. I burned in my demo unit for about 50 hours, and the sound improved significantly. Vocals became more pronounced and natural. The highs, which initially seemed a bit "tame," now seem well extended, offering just the right amount of detail and sharpness. I'm sure the EVO will improve even more over time.
More blogs on the topic
It's evolution, baby: Empire Ears Legend Evo Unboxing and first impressions – Audio Essence
Photo - Wednesday Part 1: Empire Ears Legend X SE 2021 – Audio Essence