Astell & Kern LAYLA
The Layla delivers flagship transparency and a startlingly expansive soundstage, pairing near-neutral poise with smooth, extended treble and richly resolved vocals. Headphone Guru found its adjustable bass genuinely useful, adding weight without sacrificing texture or control. Premium carbon-fiber construction, isolation, and full-size-headphone scale make this a compelling luxury IEM.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
95/100
Fit Comfort Isolation
93/100
Build Accessories
94/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Exceptionally transparent, detailed and spacious presentation with imaging that approaches elite full-size headphones.
Adjustable bass provides meaningful tailoring while retaining textured, controlled low-end performance.
Smooth, highly extended treble and well-integrated vocals deliver a balanced, non-fatiguing signature.
Premium carbon-fiber/titanium build, sturdy matching case, two cables and multiple ear tips create a strong ownership package.
Cons
Luxury-level $2,499 pricing places it well beyond mainstream IEM budgets.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 95/100
The Layla is described as remarkably neutral, clean, and balanced while delivering unusually large-scale sound for an in-ear monitor. The review repeatedly praises its transparent detail retrieval, spacious imaging, controlled adjustable bass, and smooth yet highly extended treble.
Bass
96/100
The adjustable bass system lets listeners tailor low-frequency weight, with up to a substantial increase around 60Hz. At its flat setting, the reviewer found bass exceptionally textured and detailed, with authoritative kick-drum impact that did not overhang or become overbearing.
Midrange
96/100
Vocals are described as nearly perfect, with Andrea Bocelli's voice presented beautifully. The review particularly praises the natural relationship between vocals, bass, and treble, suggesting an unusually well-judged tonal balance.
Treble
97/100
Treble extension is compared favorably with current flagship full-size headphones. Despite that reach, the highs are described as smooth, free of obvious peaks or edge, with exceptionally lifelike shimmer and decay.
Resolution Separation
97/100
The reviewer calls the Layla one of the most neutral, revealing, and transparent transducers they have heard across IEMs, headphones, and speakers. Minute details remain crystal clear, and the monitor is said to extract information at an astonishing level.
Soundstage Imaging
97/100
The Layla's staging, air, and imaging are compared with elite Stax full-size headphones rather than typical IEM expectations. Its stage is described as both tremendous in size and highly accurate in tonal and spatial placement.
Dynamics Coherence
85/100
Bass drums are reported to hit with authority while stopping cleanly, indicating convincing transient control. The review also cites the phase-coherent waveguide design, though it offers relatively little direct listening commentary on large-scale dynamic swings or complex-driver integration.
FIT COMFORT ISOLATION PERFORMANCE 93/100
The reviewer found the Layla exceptionally comfortable and secure enough to forget it was being worn. It also provides the useful passive isolation expected from a high-end in-ear monitor, though the review gives limited detail on fit across different ear shapes.
Seal Stability
91/100
The reviewer reports occasionally checking whether the monitors had fallen out because they were so unobtrusive, while the sound remained intact. That experience suggests a stable fit, although there is no broader discussion of insertion depth, seal sensitivity, or different ear anatomies.
Comfort
96/100
Comfort is a clear strength in the review. The shells are described as so comfortable that the reviewer could forget they were wearing them during use.
Isolation
91/100
The Layla is said to retain the portability and noise isolation expected of an inner-ear monitor. The review does not provide a direct comparison with other sealed professional IEMs or quantify its attenuation.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Accessories
94/100
The review describes the carbon-fiber and titanium construction as both exceptionally solid and visually striking. Useful ownership extras include a matching carbon-fiber carrying case, multiple ear tips, and two included cables.
Value for Money
85/100
At $2,499, the review acknowledges that the Layla is not an IEM for every budget. It does not directly compare value with similarly priced rivals or offer a clear judgment on whether the performance justifies its asking price.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Model
- LAYLA
- Type
- Universal fit IEM
- Driver Unit
- Custom-made Balanced Armature Driver [12ea per side]
- Frequency Response
- 10Hz to 23kHz
- Input Sensitivity
- 117dB @ 1mW
- Impedance
- 20 ohm
- Specification
- - Audio was NOT muted during the measurement. - The image/specification may be changed without notice to improve product performance and quality.
Manufacturer's Description — Astell & Kern
Jerry Harvey Audio x Astell&kern
The siren series In-ear monitors are named after famous rock songs about women. Jerry Harvey Audio
produced a special version of the Roxanne tuned for the Astell&Kern in 2014. The collaboration was
so successful that the two companies will now release two more models.
The first new model is the Layla. This all new flagship model is nothing short of stunning visually
as well as sonically. The second in the “Sirens Series” line, it is worthy of being named after
possibly the most famous love song in Rock history. Recorded By Eric Clapton, with his band Derek
and the Dominos and released in 1970 on Layla and other Love songs. Layla was inspired by Clapton's
unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend George Harrison.
The Layla is the 1st earpiece I've designed to be a reference/mastering IEM. Most IEMs I design have
a live rock and rock&roll tuning with a little more emphasis on the lows and low mids, accurate but
warm. The Layla bass response when turned down is perfectly flat and when fully turned up has +13dB
of boost at 60Hz.”
The Layla also has the most sophisticated crossover network ever put into an IEM.
The shape of all crossover filters are all 4th order. This crossover circuit combined with the
Freqphase waveguide and new proprietary quad drivers deliver an audio quality that will truly put
you at the mix position in the recording studio whether it's hearing exactly what the mixer/producer
and band wanted you to hear, mixing your own tracks or performing live.
by Jerry Harvey
The 1st reference/mastering IEM from Jerry Harvey Audio
All new proprietary Driver designs
This series of IEM's were designed to be used as a Mastering reference tool because the high driver was designed for optimum top end extention with minimal distortion. The mid driver is perfectly flat from 10Hz to 5kHz. Low driver designed for steeper low pass and with virtualy no distortion.
SoundrIVe Technology (Quad Driver Technology)
Layla was equipped with soundrIVe Technology, using Jerry Harvey Audio's proprietary mini quad drivers. Layla has a triple quad driver (12 drivers) configuration that offers the widest frequency range you’ll ever hear.
FreqPhase Technology / Stainless Steel Tube Waveguide
FreqPhase corrects Time and Phase of multiple Drivers. The Waveguide ensures each driver signal arrives within 0.01 milliseconds, resulting in a Phase coherent IEM.
4-pin Cable Connection with Machined Aluminum Locking Collar
4-pin cable connection with Machined Aluminum Collar mechanism provides a more secure and strong connection with earpiece and will also help to protect it from sweat and dust.
Variable BASS output Adjustable Cable
User controlled low frequency drivers with the adjustable bass (0 to +13dB). Frequency ranges from flat bass response up to +13dB.
Additional Balance Cable for Astell&Kern
AK380/AK320/AK240/AK120Ⅱ/AK100Ⅱ provides a balance output with its specific 2.5mm 4pole terminal. Layla is originally designed and tuned for the AK240 balance output and provides a balanced cable specially made to connect to the AK240.
* This originally designed 3.5mm unbalanced cable is also included in the package.
Hand Crafted IEM made in the USA
Jerry Harvey Audio is proud to manufacture Layla by using old school craftsmanship, while using the most cutting edge Technology.
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