Hey, there, it's Sara from Moon Audio. Today I'm going to be talking about Empire Ears' newest
flagship in-ear monitor, the Odin. As you may have heard, Odin was one of two new Empire IEMs
to debut this year. Odin is said to embody the best of everything that Empire Ears has brought to
the table so far in terms of their cutting-edge proprietary technologies and state-of-the-art
design. We'll get into the nitty-gritty in a moment, but first I want to point out this
gorgeous bifrost faceplate, which, as you can see, is this sparkly multi-colored gem-tone design.
Also note the valknut logo on the left faceplate. Bifrost and valknut, like Odin, pay homage to
Norse mythology. You can read more about it in our Odin review. So now for some tech. Inside each
one of these shells are 11 drivers. The last time Empire put this many drivers into an IEM was with
one of their previous flagships, the Zeus, which had 14 balanced armatures. Odin, on the other
hand, is a tribrid design, meaning it has three different driver technologies. First off, there
are dual Weapon Nine Plus subwoofers, the next-gen version of Empire's proprietary dynamic driver
that delivers the punch of a true subwoofer. Then there are five balanced armatures for the mids,
and finally, there are quad electrostats - two for the highs and two for the ultra-highs.
It's all nicely controlled by Empire's own SynX crossover network. Odin also features EIVEC
technology, which helps to keep the electrostat drivers from dominating, which this driver type
is prone to do when mixed with other drivers. And each shell and all components are treated with
Empire's own A.R.C. anti-resonance compound, which reduces unwanted vibrations and helps to eliminate
ear fatigue. Now for the good stuff. The first thing to note about Odin is how utterly natural
it sounds. There is no pretense, Odin will not try to get you to hear your music in a particular way.
Odin presents the music to you in a pure, honest style that allows you to enjoy it in your own way.
But natural in no way means flat or boring. Odin and its two Weapon Nine Plus subwoofers deliver
across the bass and sub-bass spectrum, but never to the point of dominating. Bass feels powerful
and punchy yet totally controlled. Male and especially female vocals are smooth and nuanced.
You're not necessarily going to get a ton of emotion out of the vocals, but you'll get amazing
depth and detail. Sound separation is exquisite with oodles of clarity. Every instrument is
discernible, even in the most complex pieces. It's not an analytical sound signature though, which to
some ears can come off as sterile, and I wouldn't say Odin is an IEM for detail freaks per se,
but it will definitely serve you well if you enjoy hidden treats in your music.
Soundstage on Odin is notable for an IEM. When I listened I had a sense that the music was not
just side-to-side but just a touch in front of me and at times above me, as opposed to concentrated
in my head. Now, if you're thinking about a cable upgrade, know that materials matter. Dragon Cables
use the best raw materials to unveil your music. I've got Odin paired here with a Silver Dragon
IEM cable, which enhances detail, clarity, and top-end sizzle. Odin is strong in those areas,
so the Silver Dragon will serve to augment those qualities. For someone who wants a little more
warmth, though, I suggest pairing Odin with a Bronze Dragon with UP-OCC copper strands that will
lend a sense of fullness to your music without making it too lush. All in all, I think Odin
is really something special. It's a beautiful, natural, organic presentation and a remarkably
smooth, pure, and honest sound that is nothing short of heavenly. Just a note: Odin is currently
available as a universal model, but there are plans for a custom option down the line. You'll
find links below to our review and the unboxing video. Thanks for watching, and happy listening.