Empire Ears Legend Evo vs Noble Audio Onyx
Introduction
The Empire Ears Legend Evo and Noble Audio Onyx are flagship IEMs designed to deliver a clear, impactful, and detailed sound experience. We compare both models to help you find the best in-ear monitors for your listening preferences.
Not the right fit? Browse other In-Ear Monitors from Empire Ears and Noble Audio.
Legend Evo vs Onyx Price Comparison
The Legend Evo and Onyx sit at similar price points.
The Legend Evo comes in at $3,099.00.
The Onyx comes in at $3,200.00.
The Legend Evo costs slightly less than the Onyx. Let's dive deep into the specs, design, sound signatures, and features of both so you can get a better idea of what each IEM brings to the table.
The Empire Ears Legend Evo
The Legend Evo is the evolution of Empire Ears' Legend X IEM. It features an eight-driver tribrid design consisting of W9+ Subwoofers, Prioprietary Balanced Armature Drivers, and a Weapon X Bone Conduction Driver. The Legend Evo boasts A.R.C Resonance Mitigation Technology and a premium Empire x PWAudio GENESIS Cable.
Empire Ears Legend Evo Features:
- W9+ Subwoofers for deep and powerful bass
- Weapon X Bone Conduction Driver for a smooth and airy treble
- 9-way synX Crossover Network for a cohesive sound experience
- A.R.C Resonance Mitigation Technology for distortion-free sound
Empire Ears Legend Evo Specs:
Driver Configuration: 2x W9+ Subwoofers - 5x Balanced Armatures - 1x Weapon X Bone Conduction Driver
Frequency Response: 5 Hz - 40kHz
Sensitivity: 108dB @ 1kHz, 1mW
Crossover: 9-Way synX Crossover Network
Impedance: 3 Ohms @ 1kHz
The Noble Audio Onyx
The Noble Audio Onyx is a quadbrid IEM packed with cutting-edge driver technologies to give you an impactful and immersive listening experience.
Noble Audio Onyx Features:
- 8-driver configuration: 1 Dynamic, 4x Sonion/Knowles BA (2 mid, 2 high), 2 Electrostatic, 1 Bone Conduction Driver
- Precision CNC Aluminum Shell with Raffir Composite Faceplate
- Eletech Courage 4-core OCC silver-plated copper cable with 4.4mm termination
- Stainless steel wax guard for enhanced driver protection
Noble Audio Onyx Specs:
Driver Configuration: 1 Dynamic, 4 BA (2 mid, 2 high), 2 Electrostatic, 1 Bone Conduction Driver
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 70kHz
Sensitivity: 108 dB @1kHZ
Impedance: 14Ω
Crossover: 5-way crossover design
Design and Build Quality
The Legend Evo and Onyx are flagship IEMs with exceptional build quality, design, and ergonomics.
The Empire Ears Legend Evo is a simple looking IEM. Empire Ears used robust medical-grade resin shells in a stunning piano black semi-transparent paint for enhanced durability and looks.
The shells are ergonomic and lightweight for enhanced fit and comfort. Subtle design details like the golden EVO logo and Empire Ears Wingspan insignia give the Legend Evo a luxurious aesthetic.
The Legend Evo's overall feel is great - offering a smooth and high-quality feel. The interior features Anti-Resonance Compound (ARC) for superior sound control and is coated in custom-spec cast polymer for reduced vibrations.
The Noble Audio Onyx features CNC Aluminum Shells with a special Raffir composite faceplate for enhanced aesthetics. The Onyx is small and compact, making easy to fit and comfortable to wear for extended periods.
For enhanced durability and aesthetics, the Onyx features a stainless steel wax guard and a premium Eletech Courage cable.
Sound Signature
You're probably looking to see how these IEMs stack up on sound. We'll share our thoughts here, although keep in mind this information tends to be anecdotal and subjective.
Legend Evo Sound Signature
The Legend Evo sports a W-Shaped tuning, with powerful bass, clear vocals, and extended treble.
For daily listening, the Legend Evo delivers a life-like rendition of vocals and instrumentals with excellent clarity and detail. With that said, the Legend Evo's real weapon is its incredible bass.
The bass in the Legend Evo is easily some of the most powerful you'll ever experience in an IEM. Low frequencies come through with a visceral, subwoofer-like feel, without sounding muddy or overwhelming. Despite the powerful bass, vocals and other instruments sound clear and well-defined.
Onyx Sound Signature
The Noble Audio Onyx steers away from a studio-accurate tuning and instead offers a rich and immersive sound characterized by powerful bass and a wide soundstage.
The powerful dynamic driver delivers well-defined sub-bass rumbles and an impactful mid-bass kick. The midrange is natural and detailed, featuring life-like vocals and realistic instrumentals. The Onyx's treble is airy, sparkly, but smooth. This helps add space between sounds for a very immersive sound experience.
Price and Value
The $3,099 Legend Evo features a total of eight drivers in a tribrid configuration. Under the hood are 2 Next Generation W9+ Subwoofers, 5 Proprietary Balanced Armature Drivers, and a Weapon X Bone Conduction Driver. All eight drivers are synced through a 9-Way synX Crossover Network. All this is packed inside a high-quality piano black resin shell with ARC treatment.
In the box you get a premium Empire x PWAudio GENESIS Ultra Pure OCC Copper Cable, a hand-crafted leather case, and a wide selection of premium ear tips from Final Audio.
The $3,200 Onyx costs $1000 less than the Odin MKII. For much less than the Odin MKII, you're getting a premium-built IEM with precision CNC Aluminum Shells, Raffir Faceplates, an exotic driver package that combines Electrostatic and Bone Conduction Drivers.
You're also getting a premium Eletech Courage Cable in the box alongside a selection of ear tips and other accessories.
Our Thoughts
The Legend Evo offers an exciting combination of bass power and accuracy, making it a great option for listening to genres like Pop or Electronic. There are very few IEMs that can match the Legend Evo's bass power and quality, yet it doesn't fall flat when reproducing vocals and other instruments.
The overall sound here is big and impactful, but smooth - the IEM to get if you want to experience energy and excitement from your music.
The Noble Audio Onyx offers an exciting sound experience, characterized by its tight bass, weighty vocals, and sparkling highs. The Onyx's soundstage is a highlight, offering an immersive sound that spans deep from left to right, front to back, for that immersive sound experience. Build quality is exceptional - Machined Aluminum Shells with a unique Raffir faceplate aesthetic add a dash of premium look and feel. You're also getting a premium Eletech Courage cable in the box for enhanced durability and looks.
Get the Onyx if you want a premium IEM with a sound signature that will make your music sound more lively and engaging.
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