Some people will pay almost any amount of money to listen to music reproduced as perfectly as possible. It’s a market that South Korean company Astell&Kern understands well with the brand making some of the most exclusive and expensive Digital Audio Players for excellent sound on the go.
Of course, a great DAP needs great earphones or In-Ear Monitors to get the best from it. Here again, some people will spend almost any amount of money on a pair of IEMs that can wring every nuance out of a piece of music. Astell&Kern has teamed up with Empire Ears to collaborate to create a second pair of IEMs designed to perfectly match Astell&Kern’s premium DAPs.
The first collaboration between Astell&Kern X Empire Ears was the Odyssey. These IEMs were lauded for being able to unlock the full potential of Astell&Kern’s flagship SP3000 DAP. Now Astell&Kern X Empire Ears have developed NOVUS IEMs which are something quite spectacular.
NOVUS IEMs have been developed to extract every ounce of detail from Astell&Kern’s SP3000T. This deluxe DAP blends the sound of analog vacuum tubes with an ultra-high-resolution digital source. The components and materials have been selected without compromise to deliver the ultimate sound quality.
Each of the NOVUS earpieces contains 13 separate tiny drivers in something called a Multi-Driver Quadbrid System. So, what does that mean exactly? Let’s break it down. Each earpiece houses two W9+ dynamic drivers, five balanced armature drivers, a Sonion driver, four proprietary NOVA drivers made by Knowles Corporation, four electrostatic drivers from Sonion and two bone conductors, also from Sonion.
That’s a total of 13 tiny speakers packed into each earpiece which is finished in 24K gold-plated faceplates with sapphire glass on a 6061-T6 aluminum shell finished in Diamond-Like Carbon. There’s a lot of craftsmanship in these IEMs and they feel and look superb. The beautifully packaged NOVUS include a choice of silicone ear tips in a range of sizes. There is no foam tip option but the silicone tips are excellent.
The detachable cable that ships with the NOVUS is made of two twisted pairs consisting of four hybrid copper, gold and silver Litz wires. The cable is customizable but the version I borrowed had a balanced 4.4mm jack plug which is exactly what you want for this level of listening. The kit also includes a 4.4mm to 2.5mm balanced adapter for use on DAPs with the older size of balanced connector.
Despite the relatively large size of the housings, which is necessary to hold all those drivers, the comfort levels when wearing NOVUS is excellent. Yes, they are quite large and people with very small ears might have issues but I found them fine and they certainly don’t feel particularly heavy. The fit uses a plastic covered hook that goes over the ear and is perfect for reducing microphonic vibrations from the cable, which is remarkably quiet thanks to its braided fabric covering.
First off, I tested the NOVUS with a variety of DACs and DAPs. I didn’t have an Astell&Kern SP3000 to hand so I imagine that would be a next-level experience. The sound produced by the NOVUS is one of the most complete and perfectly balanced you are ever likely to hear. But at the price it should be. These are not cheap earphones and they are made for the most discerning ears.
The first thing you notice is the sheer power and presence of the NOVUS bass. It’s phenomenally low and impactful, going down to 5Hz. Whether it’s the sound of an acoustic bass or the thump of a kick drum, the way the NOVUS IEMs portray bass is physically moving. We are talking serious thrump here, but there’s sufficient separation between the upper end of the bass frequencies and lower mid-range that never smears or drifts. It’s as if the bass has been penned off in its own area.
The mid-range frequencies are enhanced by the underpinning of the ample bass and the positioning of the vocals is close to perfect. Such a detailed pair of IEMs will reveal any shortcomings in the source device or the mix of the original recording, but when the studio engineers have got the sound right, the NOVUS will make things shine.
Finally, at the top end, things is superb and never harsh or splashy. Whether it’s cymbals or the upper end of the guitar neck, the treble frequencies up to an unhearable 100kHz bring direction and focus to the soundstage. The overall tone is complete and the soundstage is coherent. It isn’t the widest soundstage you will ever hear but every instrument and vocal has plenty of space around it to produce an overall sound that’s simply fabulous.
To test the Astell&Kern X Empire Ears NOVUS, I started listening to “If The World Was A House” by The Secret Sisters. The multitracked vocals underpinned by plucked strings and gorgeous bass sounded spine-tinglingly real. The stereo separation was superb with an almost ghostly and ethereal quality.
Next, I played “Count The Wicked” by Mama’s Broke. The delicate banjo intro was articulated to perfection and then the close harmony of the singers came in with a guitar dueling alongside that banjo. Each instrument was picked out as clearly as if you were in the room. I guarantee that, even on tracks you already know well, the NOVUS can uncover something new and fresh.
No matter what I gave the NOVUS to play, they responded with sure-footedness and a complete sound. These IEMs suited my ears well but IEMs or earphones are a bit like a random pair of shoes in that they will either fit your ears or they won’t. Sound is a matter of taste and so it’s essential to audition a high-end pair of IEMs like the NOVUS because we all hear music differently depending on our taste, age or gender. Sound is so personal, but for my ears, the NOVUS are exceptional.
That said, I’ll soon be reviewing Campfire Audio’s Astrolith IEMs, a new design from the Portland-based company that uses the next generation of planar-magnetic drivers. The Astrolith cost considerably less than the NOVUS and might be as good. I’ll let you know but it’s good to bear in mind if your budget is strained.
Are there any negatives with the NOVUS? Well, yes. I have one and that is reliability. With a total of 26 separate drivers, statistically there is more chance of one failing. What would happen if one or more of the tiny drivers fails? Balanced armatures aren’t the most robust devices and you need to treat these IEMs with respect. Hopefully reliability won’t be a problem but as with anything complicated, there is more of a chance of things going wrong.
Verdict: For the money, the Astell&Kern X Empire Ears NOVUS IEMs ought to be close to perfect. And, in that respect, they don’t disappoint. I’ve listened to a lot of IEMs using multiple drivers and it’s a hard job to get the balance right. An audio engineer can assemble the finest range of drivers in a pair of IEMs, but how they work when assembled is a bit of a dark art. It’s a little like putting together a soccer team of the best players in the world; but unless they can work as a team, they might not score a goal. Fortunately, the Astell&Kern X Empire Ears NOVUS IEms hit the back of the net every time. These are superb and have the perfect balance. The only competitors out there are IEMs from Campfire Audio which is the only other brand I know of that can work true magic with multiple drivers. If you have the money and you have a DAP or DAC that’s high enough quality, the Astell&Kern X Empire Ears NOVUS will reward your ears richly. Expensive but worth it.
Pricing & Availability: The Astell&Kern X Empire Ears NOVUS are available now and cost $4,999 / £4,999 / €4,999.
Tech Specs:
- Drivers: 13 Driver Quadbrid, Dual Conduction (2x W9+ Dynamic Drivers, 5x Balanced Armature Drivers, 1 x Sonion driver, 4 x Proprietary NOVA Drivers by Knowles,
- 4 x Electrostatic Drivers by Sonion, 2x Bone Conductors by Sonion.
- Connector type: 4-Wire Hybrid Copper, Gold & Silver – 23.7AWG Litz Type 4S Cable.
- Structure: Reinforced black macro-molecular fiber.
- Housing material: 6061-T6 aluminum finished in a Diamond-Like Carbon shell.
- Logo Grid: Diamond-Like Carbon.
- Faceplates: 24K pure gold.
- Frequency response: 5Hz – 100kHz.
- SPL: 108.1dB @ 1kHz, 1mW.
- Impedance: 2Ω @1kHz.
