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 Empire Ears in particular 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 uses a bone conduction driver and pushes the boundaries of what was previously possible in sound.

When can I buy Legend EVO?

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

Available for 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 convention and empowered by the knowledge of decades of experience, we knew we had to take extraordinary new measures to develop a true successor.

With the groundbreaking Dual Conduction Architecture and the 8-driver -Tribrid system at its heart, 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+ Subwoofer
• 5 Precision Balanced Armature Drivers
• Weapon X Bone Transducer Ultra Driver
• 9-way synX crossover
• Dual-line architecture
• ARC Resonance Reduction Technology
• Impedance: 4.5 ohms @ 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. Air conduction uses all three areas as sound is picked up by the outer ear and directed through the ear canal into the eardrum, causing the ossicles in the middle ear to vibrate and stimulating the hair cells in the cochlea in the inner ear. This stimulation creates electrical nerve impulses that are then conducted 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 bone conduction we can hear ultrasound (beyond 20 kHz). Bone conduction is generally perceived as a deeper tone because the skull conducts lower frequencies more efficiently than air.

DUAL CONDUCTION ARCHITECTURE

The Legend EVO takes advantage of 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 by the two W9+ subwoofers and the 5 balanced armatures, while the imaging, soundstage, detail reproduction, low frequency extension and reverberation from 5 Hz to 35 kHz via bone conduction from the W10.

Through Dual Conduction Architecture and our masterful tuning, the Legend EVO reproduces the most immersive, pure and 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 paramount to carefully and thoroughly evaluate every facet of the W10 to ensure that no stone was left unturned. Each 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 The W10's chassis has been designed to eliminate any discoloration that could result from internal resonance or bending.

The X-Factor

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

The entire design of the W10 revolves around this magnet.

Voice coil made of pure copper

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

The W10 uses a pure copper voice coil made in Japan, which is designed for a precise frequency and transient response 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 crucial for linearity, extremely low distortion and efficient heat dissipation.

Resonance and the vibration membrane

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

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 case and the design of the vents were particularly important for proper ventilation.

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

ARC treated chassis

Any bend in the cabinet walls results in uneven resonant frequencies. By treating the fixtures in critical areas with ARC, we gain control over the space and allow what is reflected and/or absorbed. In 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 on the Ceiling mounted in a specially designed cavity at the top of the case. This cavity is designed to keep all sound vibrations inside and maximize the transmission of bone conductivity through the massively filled ear canal.

Sound-dampened barrier

Low frequency energy brings itself some of the most stable materials for swinging. That's why we sealed the shell with a custom-made cast polymer to direct the internal sound vibrations to the listener while reflecting unwanted energy from outside.

The Midas Touch

The Legend Evo features two significant logos in gold: the timeless Empire Wing bar, symbolizing our relentless pursuit of exceptionality, and the EVO logo, signifying the evolution of Empire Ears IEM technology.

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 handmade, 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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