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It's Evolution, Baby: Empire Ears Legend Evo Unboxing and first impressions
Yesterday it finally happened: I was allowed to Legend EVO receive.
What immediately stands out: Empire Ears have halved the size of their packaging. The basic styling has remained yellow. Since I try to reduce paper and packaging as much as possible, I think this is a great idea. Better for the environment and for Empire Ears certainly cheaper to produce: win-win.
But where do all these accessories go? Did EE cut corners here?
Don't worry: Everything's still there. Only the in-ears and the cable have gone into the Pandora box. That's where they belong anyway!
Not only are the in-ears new, but also the use of the "Genesis" copper cable with 4.4mm Pentaconn termination, specially manufactured by PWAudio.
But let's take a closer look at these gems...
EVO is based on the classic design of the original LX. With two exceptions: A bold "EVO" logo confidently adorns the left in-ear.
And - these things are big, really big - bigger even than the Odin!
Well, the bone conduction driver is taking its toll. 😅
And there it is. As you can see, it takes up quite a bit of space in the EVO.
The new cable is quite stylish, boasting blue accents and a special Y-split. It's also thicker than the other cables Empire Ears uses. What I personally don't like is that it also makes it a bit stiff. Not a big deal, especially since the look and sound are a good fit, but I personally prefer very flexible cables.
But how does it all sound?
This question is not easy to answer. I tested it with my favorite, the Cayin N6II-TiHowever, I can certainly imagine that the EVOs would also work well with larger headphone amplifiers. Since I'm still waiting for a 4.4mm TRRS to 4-pin XLR adapter, I'll have to postpone this review for now.
Similar to the Odin, it seems to take some time and patience to get used to the EVO. The sound signature is complex, and I have to get used to it.
The first thing that struck me was the volume, the sheer power with which EVO works: I immediately had a few speakers in mind that I had the pleasure of hearing years ago and that marked my entry into the audiophile world - the B&W 802D – large and powerful bass monsters that made the music not only audible but also tangible, sounding both detailed and voluminous. Grandeur is probably the word I'm looking for.
Yes, the Legend EVO sound big. We don't do things by halves here, we do things by heart!
What I only noticed after a few hours of listening to music is that I was able to listen for hours without strain or fatigue. Something I don't always manage with the original Legend X.
The EVOs are powerful but never strenuous. Very good!
For further details I simply need more time - and must definitely Legend X and Odin compare. One thing is already clear: The EVOs aren't pure basshead in-ears. That would be too simplistic and wouldn't do them justice.
More blogs on the topic
Empire Ears Legend EVO - Full Review by Josh Chan – Audio Essence
Battle of the Bass Gods: Comparison of Empire Ears Legend EVO with Legend X and Odin – Audio Essence
Photo - Wednesday Part 1: Empire Ears Legend X SE 2021 – Audio Essence