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It's evolution, baby: Empire Ears Legend Evo unboxing and first impressions
Yesterday the time had finally come: I was allowed to receive the Legend EVO.
What immediately catches your eye: Empire Ears have halved the size of their packaging. The basic styling is love yellow. Since I'm trying to save paper and packaging as much as possible, I think it's a great idea. Better for the environment and for Empire Ears certainly also cheaper to produce: win-win.
But what to do with all the accessories? Did EE save money here?
Don't worry: it's all still there. Only the in-ears and the cable have migrated into the Pandora box. That's where they belong anyway!
Not only the in-ears are 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 the gems...
EVO is based on the classic design of the original LX. With two exceptions: A bold "EVO" logo is emblazoned on the left in-ear.
And - these things are big, really big - bigger even than the Odin!
Well, the bone conduction driver is probably taking its toll. 😅
And there's the good part. As you can see, it takes up a lot of space in the EVO.
The new cable is quite chic and impresses with 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's also a bit stiff. Not a big deal, especially since the looks and sound match, but personally I prefer very flexible cables.
But how does the whole thing sound?
The question is not easy to answer. I tested it with my favorite, the Cayin N6II-Ti, but I can well imagine that the EVO will also work well on large headphone amplifiers. Since I'm still waiting for a 4.4mm TRRS to 4-PIN XLR adapter, I have to postpone this test for the time being.
Similar to the Odin, it obviously takes some time and patience to get to grips with the EVO. The sound signature is complex and takes some getting used to.
The first thing that struck me was the volume, the sheer power with which EVO works: I immediately had a couple of speakers in mind that I had the privilege of hearing years ago and that marked my entry into the audiophile world - the B&W 802D - big and powerful bass monsters, which not only made the music audible but also felt and at the same time sounded detailed and voluminous. Grandeur is probably the word I'm looking for.
Yes, the Legend EVO sound big. Here is not messed up, but padded!
What I only realize after a few hours of listening to music is that I've been listening for hours without any effort or exhaustion. Something I don't always succeed with the original Legend X.
The EVO are bulky but never exhausting. Very good!
I just need more time for more details - and I have to compare it with Legend X and Odin. But one thing is already clear: the EVO are not just "basshead" in-ears. That would be too short-sighted and would not 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