The Empire Strikes Again: Empire Ears Legend EVO

The Empire Strikes Again!

Empire Ears have done it again: 2021 is a great year for fans of great in-ears and especially Empire Ears have delivered:

After the absolutely great Valkyrie MKII , the studio reference ESR MKII and the great price-performance hit Bravado MKII now comes the Legend EVO, the evolution of the legendary Legend X .

A real TOTL (Top-Of-The-Line) in-ear with completely new drivers. For the first time, Empire Ears is using a bone conduction driver and pushing the boundaries of what was previously possible in terms of sound.

When can I buy Legend EVO?

Unfortunately, we don't yet know how many EVOs Audio Essence will be available for launch, but we will keep you updated!

Pre-order from September 10, 2021
Price: CHF 3099.00

LEGEND EVO

NEXT GENERATION DUAL CONDUCTION IN-EAR MONITOR

The story of the Legend EVO is the story of a revolution. Freed from the constraints of conventions and strengthened by the knowledge gained from decades of experience, we knew that we had to take extraordinary new measures in order to develop a real successor.

With the groundbreaking Dual Conduction Architecture and the 8-driver -Tribrid system at the heart of the Legend EVO sets new standards in the IEM industry and offers an unprecedented level of innovation and performance.

The Legend EVO is a prime example of technical brilliance and represents the boldest expression of Empire Ears.

TECHNICAL DATA

• 2 W9 + subwoofers
• 5 Precision Balanced Armature Drivers
• Weapon X bone conduction transducer Ultra Driver
• 9-way synX crossover
• Two-line architecture
• ARC resonance mitigation technology
• Impedance: 4.5 Ohm @ 1kHz
• Frequency response: 5Hz-35kHz
• Sensitivity: 103dB @ 1kHz, 1mW
• Empire X PWAudio "GENESIS" Ultra Pure OCC copper cable, 4.4 Pentaconn connector

THE SCIENCE OF HEARING

If you look at our hearing system, you can divide it into 3 different areas: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. All three areas are used for air conduction, as the sound is picked up by the outer ear and conducted through the ear canal into the eardrum, causing the ossicles in the middle ear to vibrate and the hair cells in the cochlea in the inner ear to be stimulated. This stimulation creates electrical nerve impulses that are then sent via the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are converted into sound.

Bone conduction completely bypasses the components of the outer and middle ear by sending the vibrations directly through the skull to stimulate the hair cells in the cochlea. Through the bone conduction we can hear ultrasound (beyond 20 kHz). Bone conduction is generally perceived as a lower tone because the skull conducts lower frequencies more efficiently than air.

DUAL CONDUCTION ARCHITECTURE

The Legend EVO uses the best of both worlds with its groundbreaking dual conduction architecture. The entire frequency range from 5 Hz to 20 kHz is reproduced via air conduction from the two W9 + subwoofers and the 5 symmetrical fittings, while the image, the sound stage, the detailed reproduction, the expansion of the low frequencies and the reverberation from 5 Hz to 35 kHz via bone conduction are greatly improved by the W10.

Thanks to the Dual Conduction Architecture and our masterful tuning, the Legend EVO reproduces the most immersive, purest and most stereophonic sound possible.

THE WEAPON X BONE CONDUCTION ULTRA DRIVER

In developing the most impressive bone conduction driver ever used in an IEM, it was of the utmost importance to carefully and thoroughly evaluate every facet of the W10 to ensure that no stone was left unturned. Every element of the W10 has been hand-selected, developed and extensively tested to achieve optimal bone conductivity.

Stainless steel housing

The ultra-rugged, nickel-plated SPCC chassis of the W10 was developed to avoid any discoloration that could result from internal resonance or bending.

The X-Factor

The crown jewel and driving force of the W10 is its obscenely strong N52 neodymium magnet. N52 is the highest quality neodymium currently available and its DNA consists of neodymium, iron and boron.

The entire design of the W10 revolves around this magnet.

Pure copper voice coil

The voice coil is one of the most important aspects of the W10. When the electrical current of the audio signal flows through the coil, it creates an alternating magnetic field that pushes and pulls against the magnet of the W10. By moving the current back and forth, we are able to create immense sound vibrations throughout the entire chassis of the W10.

The W10 uses a pure copper voice coil made in Japan that ensures precise frequency and frequency response Settling behavior is optimized. The consistency of the winding tension, the density of the enamel, the bonding techniques, the dimensions and the copper composition were all factors that were decisive for linearity, extremely low distortion and efficient heat dissipation.

Resonance and the vibrating membrane

The vibration membrane is the carefully developed interface between the magnetic properties and the acoustic capabilities of the W10. It is made of steel and laser welded. Every single variable was crucial in the development. From the weight, stiffness and elasticity of the steel to the length and angle of the three cantilevered struts - the development of the world's most comprehensive and resolving bone conduction loudspeaker was more than just a declaration of love, it went well into the realm of obsession.
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FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION

The Legend Evo pays homage to its predecessor with its minimalist look and classic color scheme, but a closer look at the details shows that everything is geared towards exceptional, groundbreaking performance.

Dual Tri-Port Exhausts

Due to the extreme performance of the W10, the air volume of the housing and the design of the ventilation openings were particularly important for proper ventilation.

By mastering the volume requirements of the W10, we are able to achieve its optimal performance, capabilities, and potential.

ARC treated chassis

Any Bending in the housing walls results in unequal resonance frequencies. By treating the fixtures in critical areas with ARC, we gain control over the room and can allow whatever is reflected and / or absorbed. This way, unwanted noise is eliminated and the sound of the drivers is kept as pure as possible.

Precisely mounted "weapons"

The W10 is strategically located in the ceiling mounted in a specially designed cavity at the top of the case. This cavity is constructed in such a way that all sound vibrations are kept inside and the transmission of bone conductivity through the massively filled ear canal is maximized.

Sound-damped barrier

Low-frequency energy brings itself some of the most stable materials for swinging. That is why we have sealed the shell with a specially manufactured cast polymer to guide the internal sound vibrations to the listener and at the same time reflect unwanted energy from the outside.

The Midas touch

The Legend Evo has two significant logos in gold: the timeless Empire Wing clasp, which symbolizes our relentless pursuit of the extraordinary, and the EVO logo, which denotes the evolution of IEM technology from Empire Ears.

GENESIS

EMPIRE X PW AUDIO

• 24AWG high purity OCC copper
• Quadruple conductor, polypropylene reinforced core
• Insulated UV-resistant polyvinyl chloride jacket
• 4.4 symmetrical Pentaconn termination

INTRODUCTORY EDITION

The Legend EVO launch edition will include a handcrafted, hand-dyed leather case made by Master Sangwoo of Vishnu Leather in South Korea. The launch edition will be limited to 400 pieces .

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