[EffectAudio]

Latest Updates~! Next Tour Participant have been engaged and arrangements are in progress! Parcel has been picked up. Its on the way to @ironpeg!

1. Fabaaroan - Completed
2.@ironpeg - Shipping in progress
3.@justrest - Pending
4.@Dellwolf - Pending
5.@glassmonkey - Pending 

- Eric

 

[Ike1985]

I know I'm late to this, I'd like to get on the review if possible, just found out about this from the EE thread.  I have a chord Mojo for pairing and a 64 A12 ADEL for comparison.  I'm a budding reviewer looking to become a professional! See my reviews in my profile! =P

 

[Morimoriya 62]

Plz comparison EROS II+ and Thor silver ii+
Which one better for Andromeda ?

I can not choose between the two
Thanks alot

 

[EffectAudio]

Plz comparison EROS II+ and Thor silver ii+
Which one better for Andromeda ?

I can not choose between the two
Thanks alot

Go for Eros II+ if you prefer a warmer signature while the Thor Silver II+ if you prefer spacious detailed sound signature

 

[Morimoriya 62]

Go for Eros II+ if you prefer a warmer signature while the Thor Silver II+ if you prefer spacious detailed sound signature

 

[Morimoriya 62]

Thank a lot

 

[ironpeg]

@EffectAudio
 
I received Arthur today.
I've been listening to them for couple hours now. My first impression is Arthur has better tonality than both Zeus (XIV, R).
Mid in Arthur is not too forward nor too laid back like Zeus XIV and Zeus R  respectively.
However, I think both Zeus has better dynamic presentation than Arthur.
 
I will come back with my full impression later
 
Now it's time to enjoy this master piece.

 

[EffectAudio]

  @EffectAudio
 
I received Arthur today.
I've been listening to them for couple hours now. My first impression is Arthur has better tonality than both Zeus (XIV, R).
Mid in Arthur is not too forward nor too laid back like Zeus XIV and Zeus R  respectively.
However, I think both Zeus has better dynamic presentation than Arthur.
 
I will come back with my full impression later
 
Now it's time to enjoy this master piece.

Great! Psyched to hear the impressions

 

[ironpeg]

Effect Audio: Arthur+Excalibur

 

 

 

 

Introduction
            Arthur is a special collaboration between Effect Audio, a cable manufacturer in Singapore, and Empire Ears, an iem manufacturer in USA. I was lucky enough to be selected as part of the Arthur Europe and USA tour. Arthur is a free loan that will be returned to Effect Audio at the end of the 7-day review period.
Specification and Details
Arthur

1. Price: $3799.00
2. Drivers: 14 Balanced Armature drivers (6 highs, 6 mids, 2 lows) with Silver and Copper internal wiring
3. Crossover: 8-way crossover
4. Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz
5. Impedance: 21 Ohm @ 1mw
6. Noise Isolation: -28 dB +/- 2

Excalibur

1. 24 AWG
2. 4 Wire Braid
3. UPOCC Gold+Silver 7 Bundled Core Litz

Build and Fit
Arthur is the same size as Zeus-XIV and Zeus-R. It is quite small for a 14-driver iem. I use medium comply foam tips in this review because spinfit tip failed to give me a perfect fit and isolation.
 
Sound Impressions
Source: AK380Cu
Tips: Comply foam T-500 Medium
Music Genre: Pop, Jazz, Easy listening, Rock, EDM, Concert Record
File Resolution: 16bit 44.1KHz, 24bit 44.1 KHz, 24bit 96KHz, DSD
Presentation
Arthur is an engaging iem with full sound. The sound stage is deep and wide in comparison with typical balanced armature iems such as SE846, JH Roxanne, and its brothers Zeus-XIV and Zeus-R. You will feel the airness in the stage area of the iem. It sounds lively and packs full clarity, details and resolution of the song. Separation is the beast for Arthur. However, Arthur sometimes could not sound harmonize because of its ability to separate the instruments. Also, Arthur does not possess a good dynamic presentation of the sound. The dynamic presentation of Arthur feels like several steps of stair. It is not seamless maybe due to its speed.
Bass
Arthur’s bass is very powerful and engaging but the bass is not too close to your ear. The note is thick and has a long decay time. Deep bass is very rumble. Overall, bass is punchy and impactful with excellent details.
Mid
Vocal is neither too forward nor laid-back but you will still feel that the singer is in front of you. Also, you will feel the power from the singer. Note sound thick, clear, and engaging.
Treble
Arthur’s treble is not harsh and piercing but sharp. It is very detail, precise, and accurate. The sparkle of percussion is very beautiful. Treble is brighter than JH siren series iem.
Comparison
Arthur+Excalibur Vs Zeus-XR G1+ Mars+Leonidas 8-wire Bespoke
Soundstage: Zeus-XR G1 has a wider soundstage than Arthur. I suspect this is cause by ADEL Module. The depth of the soundstage is similar to each other.
Separation: Arthur wins be a tiny margin. But a better separation in Arthur costs it to be less harmonized comparing to Zeus-XR
Dynamic Presentation: Zeus-XR has a better dynamic presentation. The dynamic presentation in Zeus-XR feels seamless while Arthur’s dynamic presentation feels like several small steps of stair.
Bass: Arthur has a better bass comparing to its brothers Zeus-XIV and Zeus. Bass in Arthur has a longer decay time, thicker note, more rumbling, and better impacts and punches.
Mid: Arthur positions vocal better than Zeus-XR. Zeus-XIV’s vocal is a bit too forward while Zeus-R’s is too laid-back. Arthur’s vocal is placed in the right position between the Zeus-XIV and Zeus-R
High: I would call a tie for treble presentation and performance between Arthur and Zeus-XR. Arthur’s treble is sharper than Zeus’s which could bring fatigue after a long listening time.
 
Conclusion
Arthur is one of a kind TOTL iem like its brothers Zeus-XR. I would not say which one is better because it is unfair to judge them since all of them have a different sound signature. If you seek a reference iem, go for Zeus-R. If you like mid centric sound with harmonic and seamless dynamic presentation, go for Zeus-XIV. If you seek a great rumble, punchy bass, detail mid and high, and lively engaging sound, go for Arthur.
End Note
Thank you Effect Audio for giving me this chance to demo Arthur+Excalibur. It is a masterpiece TOTL iem. Empire Ears, you did a great job in tuning Arthur. Finally, I am hoping that Empire Ears will come up with an iem that combine the bass and mid from Arthur, high from Zeus-XR, details and clarity from Arthur, dynamic presentation and harmonize from Zeus-XR together. That would be my dream iem.

 

[ironpeg]

Arthur+Heracles vs Arthur+Excalibur
Soundstage: width is similar but depth is deeper while height is a bit smaller with Heracles.
Separation: No differences.
Dynamic Presentation: Less engaging but a major improvement in dynamic presentation with Heracles. The stair stepping is gone.
Bass: Bass is tighter, faster, with a reduction in decay time with Heracles. Also, Impact, punch and slam are gentler.
Mid: Vocal is gentler pronounce while being less engaging with Heracles. This makes it easier to feel the singer’s feeling.
High: Treble is less sharp, harsh but also less sparkling with Heracles.
 
 
Arthur+Mars/Leonidas 8-wire Bespoke vs Arthur+Excalibur
Soundstage: width and height is similar but depth is deeper with Mars/Leonidas 8-wire Bespoke.
Separation: More airy presentation with Mars/Leonidas 8-wire Bespoke.
Dynamic Presentation: A major improvement in dynamic presentation with Mars/Leonidas 8-wire Bespoke.The stair stepping is gone.
Bass: Bass is tighter, faster, with a reduction in decay time with Mars/Leonidas 8-wire Bespoke. Similar impact, punch, and rumble with Excalibur
Mid: Vocal get pushed a little bit back with Mars/Leonidas 8-wire Bespoke but still keeps the Arthur+Excalibur sound signature.
High: With Mars/Leonidas 8-wire Bespoke, treble is less sharp, harsh but still retain that great sparkling.

 

[ironpeg]

I don't own Zeus-R non ADEL but I own Zeus-XRA with both MAM and G1 Modules.
The closest thing I could get to Zeus-R is to use Zeus-XR in R setting with MAM module close.
 
Arthur+Excalibur Vs Zeus-R MAM closed+Excalibur
 
Soundstage: Zeus is wider than Arthur. Also, Zeus stage is deeper than Arthur. These give the better sense of airy presentation in Zeus.
Separation: Very similar to each other.
Dynamic Presentation: Zeus has a better dynamic presentation. Zeus’ speed is a faster than Arthur.
Presentation: Arthur pronounces the sound better than Zeus. The sound is sharper and more precise. Music from Arthur is livelier and more engaging than Zeus.
Bass: Arthur has a better bass. Bass in Arthur has a longer decay time, thicker note, more rumbling, and better impacts and punches.
Mid: Zeus’ vocal is slightly positioned behind Arthur’s vocal.
High: Arthur’s treble is more sparkling and sharper than Zeus. 

 

[flipper203]

@ironpeg regarding your feedback, the Zeus with your mars/leonidas bespoke sounds better than Zeux with excalibur am I right?

 

[ironpeg]

  @ironpeg regarding your feedback, the Zeus with your mars/leonidas bespoke sounds better than Zeux with excalibur am I right?

It is actually depended on which type of sound you prefer.
 
I actually like Zeus with Excalibur because of its engaging, organic, and lively sound. I have a high tolerance to sharp and harsh treble. So, the harsh and sharp treble from Excalibur is fine for me. The only thing I don't like about Excalibur is its slower speed than the bespoke cable.
 
On the other hand, Zeus with the bespoke cable produces a gentler, smoother and easy listening sound. The dynamic presentation in bespoke cable is better because of the faster speed.
 
To sum up, Excalibur is fun sound while the bespoke is more of a reference type.

 

[flipper203]

thanks for your clarification ! 

 

[Ike1985]

Elizabethtown, KY, USA