Introduction
Sound Analysis
Pairings
Conclusions
I’ve heard many “top of the line” monitors in my day and to my ears EE flagships always have a “crystalline sound”. Crystals magnify and focus. I have always heard a very distinct reproduction from Empire Ears. I would describe it as a sound which is neatly organized in the sense of each sound being completely separated in-stage from the other sounds. Each sound it’s own distinct sound, allowed to arise and decay as it sees fit uninterrupted by whatever else may be going on in the song. Extreme resolution is the next trait I hear in flagship EE monitors, when people say they hear things they’ve never heard because of an IEM this is a quality you will most certainly get with EE flagships. The final quality that I feel EE most often provides their customers in their best offerings is an utterly black background. The Wraith is a master of all three; complete isolation of each sound in the sound stage, an astonishing level of resolution and texture of sound and finally all of this on a totally black silent background.
I am grateful to Empire Ears for giving me the opportunity to review the Wraith as part of the head-fi tour.
Empire Ears is proud to present the World's First Quad Electrostatic IEM, The Wraith. The Wraith is Carnegie Hall built for one; a vast cathedral erected in the name of crystalline, pure sound. Performances blossom in the enormous sound stage, so intimate you can brush them with your fingertips, yet so grand as to fill every corner, revealing and polishing the finest nuances. Every element of the music is arrayed before you, an orchestra lit in spotlights. No detail is overlooked, but instead is nurtured, given the space to grow and shine. You will truly hear music like never before. World leading treble extension dances atop rich and precise mids, all of which is grounded by the earthy, tight low end. The utterly unbelievable level of detail achieved by The Wraith is only possible through the freshly pioneered EIVEC - Empire Intelligent Variable Electrostatic Control - technology. In The Wraith, EIVEC utilizes two transformers to bring the Quadruple Electrostatic Drivers into order, dividing the duties of the EST drivers, and blending them seamlessly with the seven balanced armature drivers which fill out the rest of the robust sound profile. The results are astounding, crafting a world around you with a clarity, texture, and detail that redefine what's possible. The Wraith comes standard with our new and exclusive "Amethyst Infused Carbon Fiber" faceplate and an Effect Audio Cleopatra bespoke cable.
I found the EE packaging with the Wraith to be the best I have ever seen up to this point. I’m sure I could run over the included hefty twist open IEM case with my truck and the IEM’s inside would be just fine. A variety of Final Type E tips are included ranging from extra-large to super small for a total of 5 size options. Being familiar with their packaging as a former owner of both Zeus and Zeus XR, I can firmly say the packaging provided with the wraith is far better than what they used to provide with their IEM’s. It’s industry leading and what is to be expected at this price point.
This is an audiophiles monitor, excelling above all in the technical aspects of sound reproduction. The Wraith is an absolutely clean sounding upper-mid/high centric monitor with industry leading resolution and just enough bass quantity to create an emotive sound. It excels in technicality, becoming the most technical monitor I’ve ever heard when paired with a TOTL source (Hugo2). The stage is circular with an ovular bent, favoring depth ever so slightly over the other stage dimensions. The stage can sometimes appear smaller than it really is due to the extreme resolution of each note as the brain hears sounds with more detail as being closer. Imaging is top shelf giving the sound an impressive sense of realism. Realism is especially evident in voices where every nuance of throat sound is reproduced causing many “wow” moments. The monitor is also quite emotive. Separation in stage is class leading as every instrument is allowed space to emerge and decay against the blackest background I’ve yet heard. Driver technologies are integrated to create a cohesive and seamless whole. Midrange notes are dense and detail packed. With regard to genre’s I see the Wraith’s talents best used in metal, rock, orchestral and acoustic music. Listeners who favor other genres like rap or EDM may find bass quantity lacking.
Keywords: Audiophile tuning , Extreme resolution, Upper mids favored over lower mids, Ovular three-dimensional stage as opposed to width skewed, Utterly black background, Seamless, Emotive, Realism.
I wouldn’t call myself a bass head as I don’t enjoy bass when it overpowers or dampens the rest of the sound causing a loss of resolution. I find mid bass quantity to be neutral while both mid and sub bass go very deep in tone but with neutral impact/quantity. I’ve read many IEM reviews where the reviewer will say this is a “quality bass” but not a “quantity bass”, the Wraith fits this description. I was initially turned off by the quantity of bass but as my ears became accustomed to the Wraith I reveled in the clarity of bass, the texture of bass notes reproduced at such a high level of resolution is impressive and fast but it’s at the cost of visceral impact. Bass heads will likely find the quantity lacking but if you do not require significant bass quantity then I suggest you allow your ears to adjust to this new signature because the tradeoff’s you get can be worth if speed, tightness and resolution are sound qualities you enjoy.
Keywords: Extremely resolute bass, neutral mid bass quantity, light sub bass impact, excellent bass extension(deep but not impactful).
All the models of Zeus had exceptional resolution and realism in the midrange, Wraith dethrones them in this regard. Wraith provides a higher resolution, bringing note texture to the fore while presenting an even more real sounding experience especially with regard to vocals wherein all the throat sounds come through cleanly. This is a crystalline midrange, totally transparent and natural in tone. Midrange notes are extremely detailed while presenting moderate density. Upper mids are favored over lower mids and the midrange is forward the rest of the signature.
Keywords: Upper mid focused, Moderate note density, Exceptional resolution especially in vocals.
Highs are non-fatiguing. Electrostatic drivers shine down on the rest of the signature illuminating the texture of notes and creating clear lines of demarcation around the edges of each sound enhancing the separation. Wraith never crept into sibilance with any recordings for me. Listeners will find a great deal of density in the highs, this monitor is a treble head’s dream. Tremendous detail rendered with electrostatic speed and a silky smooth tuning meld to create one of the best high end tuning's I’ve ever heard with female vocals being where the Wraith truly shines.
Keywords: Butter Smooth Sparkle, Dense, Fast.
Stage construction is three dimensional as opposed to a wide panned IEM presentation. Stage dimensions are epic with extreme note precision and isolation merging to create a sense of black vastness between notes. An un-congested presentation with each sound having full freedom to emerge and dissolve fully without being distorted or blurred into other sounds. The brain can track a sound down to its faintest echo with Wraith if desired. The super black background aids in this regard as well. The stage is huge in all directions, X, Y and Z. I don’t find any axis to be overly favored over another, maybe an ever so slight ovular shape but it’s very slight.
Keywords: Vast, Top shelf layering and separation, Full 360 circular, Super black background, Exceptional separation.
The A18t with M15 or Fir audio black module is the most resolute monitor I've heard. I hear the A18t w/M15 or Fir black slightly outperforming Wraith in overall resolution, but Wraith presents ultra high resolution as well through an upper mid and high centric tuning. If you are a huge fan of resolution and you are content with moderate bass impact you will love Wraith but make sure to pair it with a competent source. Wraith's resolution is spread evenly from the silky smooth highs right down to the impressively rendered sub bass texture. Wraith is tonally accurate with excellent transparency. I find myself disappearing into the music with the Wraith’s non-fatiguing and accurate and emotional tuning.
Keywords: Class leading resolution, Accurate tonality leading to total transparency, Emotional.
To me this is the only comparison that matters as of right now. I am waiting to hear the top shelf vision ears stuff but until then A18t has been my favorite monitor for its’ easy to love signature, in offensive highs, exceptional detail, solid bass impact and incredible layering and separation. A18t has stood the test of time with its’ traditional balanced armature approach while other offerings coming later offered hybrid designs.
Wraith possesses a faster sound due to its’ electrostatic design. Extreme resolution and texture is more effortlessly presented with Wraith especially in the sub bass regions. A18t presents the same resolution but it requires more active listening to pick up with M20 module installed, with M15 the detail is presented more like Wraith and I give the slight edge in overall resolution to A18t. Wraith has more sub bass resolution and texture but A18t counters with more visceral bass impact. As stated earlier, some may find the bass impact on Wraith to be lacking. They both present very realistic vocals with Wraith vocals being more forward.
A18t has a wider stage whereas Wraith counters with a vast circular stage with an ever so slight ovular bent. These are both massive stages that dwarf most other IEMs. If you prefer a more rounded stage you may prefer Wraith, if you want to have those moments every once in awhile where the vastness of the stage jumps out at you then you will prefer the A18t because left to right panning is epic on A18t to the point that it stands out and says “look what I can do.”
With the A18t you have the option of 6 different modules to fine tune the sound, the M15 and M20 from 64 Audio, the hard to find carrot module which totally seals the monitor and the Fir Audio modules. This kind of customization isn’t possible with Wraith of course. A18t will play nicer with more genres and is the versatile. Wraith isolates notes better and sets them against a darker background, A18t also has class leading layering and separation it’s just that the electrostats slightly exceed the BA’s from what I can tell in this regard. It’s the hallmark of electrostatic designs, a crystalline clarity and cleanness to the sound.
These two are both at the top of the heap and I don’t see either one dethroning the other. It all comes down to preference. If you need bass that’s impactful chose A18t w/M20 or the Fir Audio gold module because you’ll still get a massive stage with excellent layering and separation or go M15 for maximum resolution. If you want an upper-mid/highs rich sound and to see what’s technically possible with regard to clarity, separation background blackness and technicality but at the expense of bass impact chose Wraith.
Vision ears comparison will be coming when I hear it.
The Valkyrie presents a surprisingly high level of resolution at its’ price point but ultimately falls short of Wraith due to its lack of separation. Herein is the most distinguishing feature between the two, the Wraith has the best note separation I’ve ever heard while the Valkyrie is a notch below due to note bleed. The Valkyrie has much more sub and mid bass impact than Wraith and doesn’t compromise in this regard. Valkyrie’s V-ish shaped signature plays much nicer with most typical genres. The Valkyrie is an incredible deal at its’ price point vs the Wraith and I found it non-fatiguing and enjoyable for hours on end. I found myself toe tapping and bobbing my head much more with Valkyrie whereas with Wraith I was critically listening and being wowed by the resolution and separation.
Do not buy a top shelf monitor and soley run it out of your phone. The Wraith is an incredible piece of sonic engineering that deserves a Hugo2, a top shelf Astell and Kern or a desktop setup. This is a moderately power hungry monitor, I find myself listening comfortably past the ½ point with my Note10+ phone. You will get plenty of volume out of a phone but again feed it right.
Low end, low end, low end. I think it’s safe to say most people will be served by a pairing the wraith with a cable that attenuates the upper mids in favor of lower mids. I can’t help but want more bass impact and note density. The wraith paired with a cable that accomplished this would be something to behold. There is plenty of weight that could be trimmed off the highs and transferred down to the lows in my opinion.
To my ears the hallmark of top shelf Empire Ears monitors has always been their utterly black background. I have never heard a blacker background than from Zeus XIV and now Wraith. The Wraith presents a supremely resolute, totally transparent and precisely separated sound with an enveloping stage. This is the bleeding edge of what’s technically possible with regard to IEMs. The signature may at first be off putting to bass heads but I suggest you give the Wraith time to grow on you, it was hard for me to put it down once my brain became accustomed to it. The Valkyrie is also an incredible deal vs Wraith that would allow you to get into the EE electrostat game at a lower price point.
Packaging
Technical SpecificationsSound Analysis
Lows
Mids
ComparisonsPairings
Conclusions
I’ve heard many “top of the line” monitors in my day and to my ears EE flagships always have a “crystalline sound”. Crystals magnify and focus. I have always heard a very distinct reproduction from Empire Ears. I would describe it as a sound which is neatly organized in the sense of each sound being completely separated in-stage from the other sounds. Each sound it’s own distinct sound, allowed to arise and decay as it sees fit uninterrupted by whatever else may be going on in the song. Extreme resolution is the next trait I hear in flagship EE monitors, when people say they hear things they’ve never heard because of an IEM this is a quality you will most certainly get with EE flagships. The final quality that I feel EE most often provides their customers in their best offerings is an utterly black background. The Wraith is a master of all three; complete isolation of each sound in the sound stage, an astonishing level of resolution and texture of sound and finally all of this on a totally black silent background.
I am grateful to Empire Ears for giving me the opportunity to review the Wraith as part of the head-fi tour.
Empire Ears is proud to present the World's First Quad Electrostatic IEM, The Wraith. The Wraith is Carnegie Hall built for one; a vast cathedral erected in the name of crystalline, pure sound. Performances blossom in the enormous sound stage, so intimate you can brush them with your fingertips, yet so grand as to fill every corner, revealing and polishing the finest nuances. Every element of the music is arrayed before you, an orchestra lit in spotlights. No detail is overlooked, but instead is nurtured, given the space to grow and shine. You will truly hear music like never before. World leading treble extension dances atop rich and precise mids, all of which is grounded by the earthy, tight low end. The utterly unbelievable level of detail achieved by The Wraith is only possible through the freshly pioneered EIVEC - Empire Intelligent Variable Electrostatic Control - technology. In The Wraith, EIVEC utilizes two transformers to bring the Quadruple Electrostatic Drivers into order, dividing the duties of the EST drivers, and blending them seamlessly with the seven balanced armature drivers which fill out the rest of the robust sound profile. The results are astounding, crafting a world around you with a clarity, texture, and detail that redefine what's possible. The Wraith comes standard with our new and exclusive "Amethyst Infused Carbon Fiber" faceplate and an Effect Audio Cleopatra bespoke cable.
I found the EE packaging with the Wraith to be the best I have ever seen up to this point. I’m sure I could run over the included hefty twist open IEM case with my truck and the IEM’s inside would be just fine. A variety of Final Type E tips are included ranging from extra-large to super small for a total of 5 size options. Being familiar with their packaging as a former owner of both Zeus and Zeus XR, I can firmly say the packaging provided with the wraith is far better than what they used to provide with their IEM’s. It’s industry leading and what is to be expected at this price point.
Technical Specifications
from
http://www.empireears.com
4 Electrostatic Drivers
7 Proprietary Empire Balanced Armature Drivers
2 Low, 3 Mid, 2 High, 4 Super-High
EIVEC - Empire Intelligent Variable Electrostatic Control
5-Way synX Crossover Network
A.R.C. Resonance Mitigation Technology
Impedance: 4 ohms @ 1kHz
Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 100kHz
Sensitivity 117dB @ 1kHz, 1mW
UPOCC 26AWG Handcrafted Cable by Effect Audio
Click to Expand
Sound Analysis
Signature
from
http://www.empireears.com
4 Electrostatic Drivers
7 Proprietary Empire Balanced Armature Drivers
2 Low, 3 Mid, 2 High, 4 Super-High
EIVEC - Empire Intelligent Variable Electrostatic Control
5-Way synX Crossover Network
A.R.C. Resonance Mitigation Technology
Impedance: 4 ohms @ 1kHz
Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 100kHz
Sensitivity 117dB @ 1kHz, 1mW
UPOCC 26AWG Handcrafted Cable by Effect Audio
Click to Expand
Sound Analysis
Signature
This is an audiophiles monitor, excelling above all in the technical aspects of sound reproduction. The Wraith is an absolutely clean sounding upper-mid/high centric monitor with industry leading resolution and just enough bass quantity to create an emotive sound. It excels in technicality, becoming the most technical monitor I’ve ever heard when paired with a TOTL source (Hugo2). The stage is circular with an ovular bent, favoring depth ever so slightly over the other stage dimensions. The stage can sometimes appear smaller than it really is due to the extreme resolution of each note as the brain hears sounds with more detail as being closer. Imaging is top shelf giving the sound an impressive sense of realism. Realism is especially evident in voices where every nuance of throat sound is reproduced causing many “wow” moments. The monitor is also quite emotive. Separation in stage is class leading as every instrument is allowed space to emerge and decay against the blackest background I’ve yet heard. Driver technologies are integrated to create a cohesive and seamless whole. Midrange notes are dense and detail packed. With regard to genre’s I see the Wraith’s talents best used in metal, rock, orchestral and acoustic music. Listeners who favor other genres like rap or EDM may find bass quantity lacking.
Keywords: Audiophile tuning , Extreme resolution, Upper mids favored over lower mids, Ovular three-dimensional stage as opposed to width skewed, Utterly black background, Seamless, Emotive, Realism.
Lows
I wouldn’t call myself a bass head as I don’t enjoy bass when it overpowers or dampens the rest of the sound causing a loss of resolution. I find mid bass quantity to be neutral while both mid and sub bass go very deep in tone but with neutral impact/quantity. I’ve read many IEM reviews where the reviewer will say this is a “quality bass” but not a “quantity bass”, the Wraith fits this description. I was initially turned off by the quantity of bass but as my ears became accustomed to the Wraith I reveled in the clarity of bass, the texture of bass notes reproduced at such a high level of resolution is impressive and fast but it’s at the cost of visceral impact. Bass heads will likely find the quantity lacking but if you do not require significant bass quantity then I suggest you allow your ears to adjust to this new signature because the tradeoff’s you get can be worth if speed, tightness and resolution are sound qualities you enjoy.
Keywords: Extremely resolute bass, neutral mid bass quantity, light sub bass impact, excellent bass extension(deep but not impactful).
Mids/Vocals
All the models of Zeus had exceptional resolution and realism in the midrange, Wraith dethrones them in this regard. Wraith provides a higher resolution, bringing note texture to the fore while presenting an even more real sounding experience especially with regard to vocals wherein all the throat sounds come through cleanly. This is a crystalline midrange, totally transparent and natural in tone. Midrange notes are extremely detailed while presenting moderate density. Upper mids are favored over lower mids and the midrange is forward the rest of the signature.
Keywords: Upper mid focused, Moderate note density, Exceptional resolution especially in vocals.
Highs
Highs are non-fatiguing. Electrostatic drivers shine down on the rest of the signature illuminating the texture of notes and creating clear lines of demarcation around the edges of each sound enhancing the separation. Wraith never crept into sibilance with any recordings for me. Listeners will find a great deal of density in the highs, this monitor is a treble head’s dream. Tremendous detail rendered with electrostatic speed and a silky smooth tuning meld to create one of the best high end tuning's I’ve ever heard with female vocals being where the Wraith truly shines.
Keywords: Butter Smooth Sparkle, Dense, Fast.
Stage construction is three dimensional as opposed to a wide panned IEM presentation. Stage dimensions are epic with extreme note precision and isolation merging to create a sense of black vastness between notes. An un-congested presentation with each sound having full freedom to emerge and dissolve fully without being distorted or blurred into other sounds. The brain can track a sound down to its faintest echo with Wraith if desired. The super black background aids in this regard as well. The stage is huge in all directions, X, Y and Z. I don’t find any axis to be overly favored over another, maybe an ever so slight ovular shape but it’s very slight.
Keywords: Vast, Top shelf layering and separation, Full 360 circular, Super black background, Exceptional separation.
Resolution and Transparency
The A18t with M15 or Fir audio black module is the most resolute monitor I've heard. I hear the A18t w/M15 or Fir black slightly outperforming Wraith in overall resolution, but Wraith presents ultra high resolution as well through an upper mid and high centric tuning. If you are a huge fan of resolution and you are content with moderate bass impact you will love Wraith but make sure to pair it with a competent source. Wraith's resolution is spread evenly from the silky smooth highs right down to the impressively rendered sub bass texture. Wraith is tonally accurate with excellent transparency. I find myself disappearing into the music with the Wraith’s non-fatiguing and accurate and emotional tuning.
Keywords: Class leading resolution, Accurate tonality leading to total transparency, Emotional.
Comparisons
A18t vs Wraith
A18t vs Wraith
To me this is the only comparison that matters as of right now. I am waiting to hear the top shelf vision ears stuff but until then A18t has been my favorite monitor for its’ easy to love signature, in offensive highs, exceptional detail, solid bass impact and incredible layering and separation. A18t has stood the test of time with its’ traditional balanced armature approach while other offerings coming later offered hybrid designs.
Wraith possesses a faster sound due to its’ electrostatic design. Extreme resolution and texture is more effortlessly presented with Wraith especially in the sub bass regions. A18t presents the same resolution but it requires more active listening to pick up with M20 module installed, with M15 the detail is presented more like Wraith and I give the slight edge in overall resolution to A18t. Wraith has more sub bass resolution and texture but A18t counters with more visceral bass impact. As stated earlier, some may find the bass impact on Wraith to be lacking. They both present very realistic vocals with Wraith vocals being more forward.
A18t has a wider stage whereas Wraith counters with a vast circular stage with an ever so slight ovular bent. These are both massive stages that dwarf most other IEMs. If you prefer a more rounded stage you may prefer Wraith, if you want to have those moments every once in awhile where the vastness of the stage jumps out at you then you will prefer the A18t because left to right panning is epic on A18t to the point that it stands out and says “look what I can do.”
With the A18t you have the option of 6 different modules to fine tune the sound, the M15 and M20 from 64 Audio, the hard to find carrot module which totally seals the monitor and the Fir Audio modules. This kind of customization isn’t possible with Wraith of course. A18t will play nicer with more genres and is the versatile. Wraith isolates notes better and sets them against a darker background, A18t also has class leading layering and separation it’s just that the electrostats slightly exceed the BA’s from what I can tell in this regard. It’s the hallmark of electrostatic designs, a crystalline clarity and cleanness to the sound.
These two are both at the top of the heap and I don’t see either one dethroning the other. It all comes down to preference. If you need bass that’s impactful chose A18t w/M20 or the Fir Audio gold module because you’ll still get a massive stage with excellent layering and separation or go M15 for maximum resolution. If you want an upper-mid/highs rich sound and to see what’s technically possible with regard to clarity, separation background blackness and technicality but at the expense of bass impact chose Wraith.
Vision ears comparison will be coming when I hear it.
Valkyrie Vs Wraith
The Valkyrie presents a surprisingly high level of resolution at its’ price point but ultimately falls short of Wraith due to its lack of separation. Herein is the most distinguishing feature between the two, the Wraith has the best note separation I’ve ever heard while the Valkyrie is a notch below due to note bleed. The Valkyrie has much more sub and mid bass impact than Wraith and doesn’t compromise in this regard. Valkyrie’s V-ish shaped signature plays much nicer with most typical genres. The Valkyrie is an incredible deal at its’ price point vs the Wraith and I found it non-fatiguing and enjoyable for hours on end. I found myself toe tapping and bobbing my head much more with Valkyrie whereas with Wraith I was critically listening and being wowed by the resolution and separation.
Pairing
Sources
Sources
Do not buy a top shelf monitor and soley run it out of your phone. The Wraith is an incredible piece of sonic engineering that deserves a Hugo2, a top shelf Astell and Kern or a desktop setup. This is a moderately power hungry monitor, I find myself listening comfortably past the ½ point with my Note10+ phone. You will get plenty of volume out of a phone but again feed it right.
Cables
Low end, low end, low end. I think it’s safe to say most people will be served by a pairing the wraith with a cable that attenuates the upper mids in favor of lower mids. I can’t help but want more bass impact and note density. The wraith paired with a cable that accomplished this would be something to behold. There is plenty of weight that could be trimmed off the highs and transferred down to the lows in my opinion.
Conclusion
To my ears the hallmark of top shelf Empire Ears monitors has always been their utterly black background. I have never heard a blacker background than from Zeus XIV and now Wraith. The Wraith presents a supremely resolute, totally transparent and precisely separated sound with an enveloping stage. This is the bleeding edge of what’s technically possible with regard to IEMs. The signature may at first be off putting to bass heads but I suggest you give the Wraith time to grow on you, it was hard for me to put it down once my brain became accustomed to it. The Valkyrie is also an incredible deal vs Wraith that would allow you to get into the EE electrostat game at a lower price point.
if you think the left-right panning on the a18 is epic, just wait until you hear the erlkonig...it's mindblowing.