ETYMOTIC Research gave the audio industry the very first “insert earphone” (we call them IEMs or earbuds now) back in 1984, and also the first noise-isolating ones using balanced armature drivers, in 1991. The company, which has its roots in the acoustic research/hearing aid industry, has been rather low-profile in the headfi field in recent years. It was acquired by Lucid Audio three years ago, allowing it to continue R&D into its products… as a result, we’re now presented with the EVO IEM, Etymotic’s first multi-driver model.
According to the Etymotic literature, the EVO’s features are:
– Triple balanced armature drivers, comprising dual low and single midrange/treble.
– Estron Linum BaX T2 low-impedance cable.
– Semi-custom designed housings.
– Estron T2 Talon connectors.
– Frequency response of 20Hz-16 kHz.
– Impedance of 47Ω.
– Sensitivity of 99dB SPL at 0.1V/1kHz.
“The EVO was created to match the audiophile’s lifestyle. By using a two-way design, it produces a tight, low-end sub bass while providing a true and transparent sound across the entire frequency spectrum. Beautifully integrating three balanced armature drivers into a moulded stainless-steel shell, the EVO truly is beautiful in both sight and sound,” Etymotic tells us confidently.
“We waited so long to put out a multi-driver earphone because we wanted to make sure that it was the best it could be and held to our exacting standards for earphone design and sonic qualities. The EVO is truly where precision meets audio and you’ll immediately hear it the first time you listen.”
Both for reliability and performance, the company designed the EVO with the Estron T2 Talon connector, a “superior connector that is small, lightweight, and will far outlast the competition… in partnership with Estron, Etymotic has also included an ultralight, low impedance Linum BaX cable that was designed to be durable while remaining almost invisible while you wear it.”
The EVO, priced at £499.95/$499.95, can be ordered at Hifiheadphones, Etymotic US and Amazon UK.
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