Empire Ears Odin (Universal)
Empire Ears Odin pairs exceptional transparency with a vast, precisely layered soundstage, making dense mixes feel startlingly open. Its 11-driver tribrid design delivers taut, controlled bass, lightning-fast transients and smooth extended treble; The Headphone Show highlights its remarkable detail and imaging. A reference-grade universal IEM for listeners chasing spacious, neutral-leaning resolution.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
93/100
Fit Comfort Isolation
84/100
Build Accessories
91/100
Value for Money
76/100
Pros
Exceptional microdetail, transparency and instrument separation keep complex recordings clear and organized.
Wide, deep, enveloping soundstage with highly precise imaging and convincing spatial placement.
Fast, controlled bass delivers punch and sub-bass authority without clouding the midrange.
Extended, crisp treble remains smooth and largely free of sibilance or fatigue.
Cons
Lower mids can sound leaner and less intimate than warmer rivals, reducing vocal density.
Bass presence and overall balance can be sensitive to insertion depth, tips and source pairing.
Large shells and wide nozzles may be uncomfortable for listeners with smaller ear canals.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
Reviewers consistently describe an exceptionally transparent, technically adept presentation with superb detail, spatial organization, speed and a broad, enveloping stage. Its tuning is broadly balanced and polished, though the leaner lower mids, relaxed upper treble and fit-sensitive bass balance make it less universally suited to listeners seeking maximum warmth or bass-head weight.
Bass
94/100
The bass is repeatedly praised as deep, punchy, fast and unusually controlled, with strong sub-bass authority that does not cloud the mix. It is not universally described as the most seismic or physically forceful bass in its class, and one reviewer found its presence changed substantially with insertion depth.
Midrange
89/100
Reviewers praise the midrange for excellent clarity, articulation, texture and realism, with one calling it excellent and another finding it highly impactful. The recurring reservation is a relatively leaner, less dense lower-mid presentation that can make vocals and instruments feel less intimate or less richly embodied.
Treble
91/100
The Odin is widely credited with extended, crisp and highly resolved treble that remains smooth, clean and free of obvious sibilance or glare. Some listeners find the top end somewhat relaxed or insufficiently forward, while another reported treble harshness before achieving better source synergy.
Resolution Separation
97/100
Detail retrieval, transparency and separation receive the strongest and most consistent acclaim. Reviewers describe exceptionally clear microdetail, strong layering and spatial cues, with The Headphone Show placing its transparency and image clarity above nearly everything else heard.
Soundstage Imaging
95/100
Reviews repeatedly call out a wide, deep and often holographic stage with excellent positional precision and separation. A few reviewers stop short of calling it the widest stage they have heard, but its spatial scale and imaging remain clear standouts.
Dynamics Coherence
94/100
The tribrid implementation is consistently described as seamless and cohesive, with quick transients, lively macro impact and strong microdynamic expression. Reviewers also praise its nimble, vibrant character and controlled bass dynamics across demanding material.
FIT COMFORT ISOLATION PERFORMANCE 84/100
The large but rounded shells are generally considered comfortable for extended listening once the right tips are selected, and several reviewers found the fit secure. Seal consistency is less assured: one reviewer found the Odin notably fussy about insertion, with audible changes in bass level, while the reviews provide little direct evidence on passive isolation.
Seal Stability
84/100
Several reviewers found a snug, stable universal fit with suitable tips, but fit is not entirely plug-and-play. Direstor's Garage specifically found insertion angle and depth fussy, reporting a substantial increase in bass presence after repositioning the earpiece.
Comfort
89/100
Although the shells are large, reviewers generally find them comfortable thanks to their smooth, rounded shape and manageable weight. Long sessions of several hours were reported without discomfort, though the wide nozzle may be problematic for listeners with small ear canals.
Isolation
75/100
The supplied reviews say little about the Odin's real-world passive attenuation. Its secure in-ear fit may be helpful in ordinary use, but there is not enough direct reviewer commentary to establish how it compares with other premium universal IEMs.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Accessories
91/100
The Odin receives strong praise for its durable-feeling acrylic shells, striking faceplates, lightweight tangle-resistant Stormbreaker cable and substantial protective metal case. The included Final tips, cleaning tool and well-executed case are useful ownership additions, though one reviewer considered the shell design otherwise fairly conventional.
Value for Money
76/100
At roughly $3,399 to $3,999, reviewers agree the Odin is a highly coveted and technically exceptional flagship, but value is a meaningful concern. The Headphone Show explicitly says value is not the reason to buy at this level; prospective owners need to prioritize its particular performance strengths over price efficiency.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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Specifications
- Technical Specifications
- 11 Proprietary Drivers, Tribrid Design 2 Next Generation W9+ Subwoofers - Sub-Bass, Bass 5 Proprietary Balanced Armature Drivers - 2 Low-Mid, 2 Mid, 1 Mid-High 4 Premium Electrostatic Drivers - 2 High, 2 Super-High 7-Way synX Crossover Network EIVEC - Empire Intelligent Variable Electrostatic Control Technology A.R.C. Resonance Mitigation Technology Impedance: 3 Ohms @ 1kHz Frequency Response: 5 Hz - 100kHz Sensitivity: 108dB @ 1kHz, 1mW Bespoke Stormbreaker UPOCC Copper Litz Cable, Quad Conductor Dual Guage Design
Manufacturer's Description — Empire Ears
The universe needs icons. Those extraordinary few that stand clear of the rest. For these individuals who inspire greatness, only the purest formulation of Empire Ears will do; an icon like no other. An IEM that stands alone - so superlative as to be named after the god of wisdom, poetry, death, divination and magic. Odin has arrived. Its beauty leaves no room for doubt. Its power cannot be reasoned with.
Unquestionably, Odin sits at the pinnacle of the Empire Ears bloodline as our most legendary flagship in-ear monitor ever.
AVAILABLE ONLY FROM OUR DEALER NETWORK
Stormbreaker
Bifröst - A Visual Masterpiece
The Bifröst is an ultra-exclusive, one-of-a-kind faceplate designed to optically simulate the mythogical rainbow bridge between Midgard and Asgard, the realm of the gods. The Bifrost features nine individual polymer layers in three proprietary lamination steps and each lamination is unique in its ability to filter and reflect specific wavelengths of light. This results in a faceplate that will produce breathtaking color transitions as the viewing angle changes -- literally shifting before your very eye.
The Bifröst is masterfully handcrafted in the USA by an award winning chemist that currently holds two patents in polymer science for high solids coating chemistry.
A Trinity In Unity
ODIN is the most powerful and exclusive IEM in Empire’s history. Boasting three of the industry’s most advanced driver technologies, ODIN is truly a standout tribrid flagship IEM with an uncompromising performance ethos focused on delivering the purest connection between listener and IEM.
Weapon IX+
Our signature W9+ dynamic driver brought serious performance to the IEM world by combining the breakthrough of an enclosed woofer in a tuned bass-reflex system. Elevating the W9 design formula to its highest level, the W9+ boasts a larger internal coil diameter, more linear excursion envelope along with a more capable suspension to handle peak-to-peak excursion while mitigating distortion. W9+ extinguishes any limits the previous design had and delivers unparalleled bass on all fronts.
Every W9+ subwoofer is hand assembled to our exacting quality standards in our Norcross, Georgia laboratory.
BA Drivers
ODIN comes equipped with 5 proprietary balanced armature drivers to deliver the signature midrange that the world has come to know and love from Empire Ears. Each of these drivers has been purpose built to our precise requirements and exacting standards. We work closely with our vendors to ensure that only the highest performing components are used.
EST Drivers
ODIN masterfully manipulates quadruple electrostatic drivers in unison with our proprietary EIVEC technology to effortlessly reproduce a remarkable 5Hz-100kHz frequency range. The ultralight moving membrane within Odin’s electrostatic drivers give the most accurate transient response, resulting in unparalleled clarity, separation and detail.
The Founder's Edition
From the very beginning of our history, IEMs have represented dreams, hopes and aspirations. For Empire, a brand that aims to provide customers enlightened moments of pure listening euphoria, the development of Odin and Hero was an indispensable step. As a further highlight of over 30 years of excellence and our 5th anniversary year, we’re ecstatic to present the Founder’s Editions as a sincere, heart-felt Thank You to all those whom helped us come this far in The Pursuit of Extraordinary.
Each Founder's Edition Odin will receive the following touches:
- Production Photograph Autographed by Dean Vang (Founder & CTO), and Catherine Young (CEO)
- Serialized Founder's Edition Plaque
- Serialized IEMs
- Dean Vang's signature on each shell
- Signatures of the entire production team
- Odin Founder's Edition will have a limited run of 200 units
What's In The Box
Included at no additional charge with each order.
- In Ear Monitor
- Empire Pandora Case
- Empire Cleaning Cloth
- Empire Cleaning Tool
- Final Audio Type E Tips - SS, S, M, L, LL
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Empire Ears Odin (Universal)
- Audeos — online and in-store — Żywiec, Województwo śląskie (website)
- Audio essence — online and in-store — Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- Audio Sanctuary — in-store — London, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Aural HiFi — online and in-store — Denver, Colorado, United States (website)
- Bloom Audio — online and in-store — Gibbsboro, New Jersey, United States (website)
- HeadAmp — online and in-store — Charlottesville, Virginia, United States (website)
- Headphone Zone — online and in-store — Laxmi Industrial Estate, Maharashtra, India (website)
- Headphones.com — online and in-store — Portland, Oregon, United States (website)
- LP Gear — online and in-store — Henderson, Nevada, United States (website)
and 9 more verified dealers