Unboxing & Impressions: Empire Ears & Astell&Core Odyssey

Unboxing & Impressions: Empire Ears & Astell&Kern Odyssey

The time has come

The new Odyssey Flagship In-Ear from Empire Ears and Astell&core is here and to increase the anticipation even more, EE and AK have shared some unboxing pictures that I don't want to withhold from you.

Last chance

Small reminder: Our Pre-order promotion for the Odyssey (-300 CHF) and the SP3000 DAP (-300 CHF) The offer ends as soon as the devices are in stock, which is expected to be the end of the week. Anyone who wants these two great devices at a lower price should act soon. 😉

AK and EE Odyssey

And...

here are some new pictures of me

So how does it sound?

I will be adding to this blog in the next few days with impressions of the Odyssey's sound and also comparing it with the Empire Ears Odin, because I believe these two are the biggest contenders in the battle for the sound crown.

All impressions are my own and based on my personal feelings and preferences (and ears of course😅).

Test equipment

source: Cayin N8ii
Cable: Eletech "Ode to Laura" & Ares II (standard cable)

The Cayin N8ii is used because, in my opinion, it's currently by far the best and most flexible DAP (digital audio player). The "Ode to Laura" flagship copper cable from Element Technology has already taken the Odin to new heights and also improves the sound of the Odyssey.

Cable Gate?

I want to be honest: The inclusion of an Ares II cable, which Empire Ears describes as Using standard cables for most of your cheaper IEMs is a bit of a disappointment, because a flagship IEM these days should also include a correspondingly high-quality cable that doesn't compromise the in-ear's performance. The Ares II isn't a bad cable in terms of sound, but only with a good upgrade cable can the Odyssey fully exploit its strengths. Furthermore, the Ares' usability isn't the best, as it's quite inflexible and not very comfortable to handle.

I once asked why such a "cheap" cable is used for the top model of Empire Ears | Astell& core included. I was told that an 8x cable was originally planned, but was rejected by AK because they simply found it too thick. I think cost considerations also played a role, though, as an 8x cable would have driven the price up even further and thus potentially limited the number of interested parties.

Fortunately, at Audio Essence, we offer the largest selection of upgrade cables in Switzerland, perhaps even in all of Europe, and there are enough products in all price ranges to unleash the Odyssey. 😉🙌

First impressions

So, how does it sound? Well, to be honest, I had my doubts as to whether the Odyssey could match the Odin or even surpass it, especially since the collaboration with Astell&Core - careful expressed - was somewhat surprising.

I can give the all-clear at this point: Fortunately, my concerns were immediately dispelled after the first few bars of music! 😵😍

After a few hours with a brand new and unburned Odyssey and a variety of music, I would rate the Odyssey as follows:

The relationship with Odin is unmistakable.The Odyssey has all the strengths of the Odin such as excellent dynamics, fantastic resolution and wonderfully natural Voice reproduction.

The playback in the upper Mids/Treble became "defused", but without losing any details - the Odin's biggest criticism has been revised and improved.

Added to this is an incredibly profound, "bone-shaking" bass - clearly a legacy of the EVO DNA in the form of the new Bone-Conduction Driver as well as a larger stage and three-dimensionality, which makes the music appear airier and more spatial.

I had a huge grin on my face a few times when soundtracks by Mr. Zimmer or Bear McCreary were playing, whose bass attacks made the hairs on my arms stand on end. 😱😱😱

I don’t want to sound too enthusiastic, because a solid review needs more time - but it is already becoming clear that after almost exactly 2 years, my undisputed favorite so far, the Empire Ears Odin, will probably have to settle for second place from now on.

Odyssey vs. Odin

Empire-Ears-and-Astell&Kern-Odyssey

In the basic tonality, Odyssey and Odin are very similar.
But there are definitely differences between the two sound giants:

The Odyssey is tuned "warmer" than the Odin, which, while by no means neutral, is considerably more analytical. This is particularly clear in pieces with a mid- and high-frequency emphasis.
The Odin sounds "brighter" and sometimes, on less good recordings, a bit "shriller," while the Odyssey sounds a bit more "good-natured."

Voices are a bit more prominent on the Odin than on the Odyssey.
The natural tonality and presence of voices is enhanced by both implemented equally well.

At the Detail reproduction Odin and Odyssey are on par. The most noticeable difference lies in the spatiality of the performance. Here, the Odyssey creates a larger soundstage and appears more voluminous and "airy." Whether this is due to the bone conduction driver or the general tuning, I can't say.

The Odyssey's bone conduction driver is definitely responsible for the even deeper, more powerful bass compared to the Odin. What's amazing is that the bass never overpowers the other frequencies or (as with the EVO) sometimes simply becomes "too important."

The Odyssey scores another plus point when it comes to the separation of voices and instruments, as here too it has the edge over the Odin.

Ultimately, only the listener can decide whether the Odyssey or the Odin are better. Technically, both are of the highest standard, and you can't really go wrong with either flagship and will be very happy for a very long time!

Personally, I think both models are fantastic and will probably buy both - Use alternately depending on the music and mood.

Empire Ears Odyssey Odin EVO

A word about the physical differences: The Odyssey is significantly larger than the Odin, and even slightly larger than the EVO. Nevertheless, it fits easily into my medium-sized ears and is extremely comfortable.
A little tip: Spintips CP155 ear tips are highly recommended not only for the Odin, but also for the Odyssey.

P.SFor both IEMs, the Eletech "Ode to Laura cable" and the Spintips CP155 Ear-Tips used.