Kurt evaluations the EPZ 550, a brand new common mid-tier IEM with a combined Sonion and Knowles 5 BA driver structure and presently priced at $549.99.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in change for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or standing. I thank EPZ Audio for his or her help.
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EPZ 550 Evaluation
Abstract
The EPZ 550 stands out as a wonderful full balanced armature multi-driver IEM, that proves itself by refinement and technical management with among the best midrange performances I’ve heard.
Professionals
Wonderful midrange with pure timbre and excellent vocal nuance retrieval.
Intricate staging, imaging, layering, and separation.
Cons
Bass would possibly sound too tame and restrained for some.
No modular cable included.
EPZ has constructed its catalog round extra than simply conventional wired IEMs, with separate strains for audiophile listening, gaming, DACs, equipment, wi-fi gear, and even headphones.
IEMs supply a flexible lineup that covers audiophile wants, wi-fi comfort, and gaming-focused audio.
Now comes the EPZ 550, priced at $549.99, that includes a full balanced armature setup with 4 Sonion drivers and one Knowles driver.
In a extremely aggressive high-end market full of quite a few hybrid driver combos, how will EPZ’s full BA configuration maintain its floor in opposition to the likes of the MOONDROP METEOR and XENNS Mangird High Professional?
Options
The EPZ 550 makes use of a 5 BA driver setup constructed round 4 Sonion drivers and one Knowles driver.
EPZ splits the Sonion array into twin 38A composite drivers for bass and twin 26A drivers for midrange, whereas the Knowles driver handles treble.
The twin Sonion 38A composite drivers deal with bass with a devoted two-driver structure. The twin Sonion 26A drivers deal with midrange, giving vocals and devices higher management and separation.
A single Knowles high-frequency driver completes the five-driver structure. EPZ doesn’t disclose the precise Knowles mannequin used, solely figuring out it as a devoted high-frequency driver.
The EPZ 550 makes use of a 3-way digital and bodily crossover to divide bass, midrange, and treble between the motive force teams. EPZ additionally integrates Knowles acoustic dampers into the crossover construction to handle section alignment and driver transitions.
Design
The EPZ 550 instantly stands out as one of many best-looking IEM designs I’ve seen, utilizing a deep purple faceplate framed by a raised gold rim.
Its silver floral scrollwork is etched into the floor somewhat than printed, giving the faceplate a tactile end that may be felt with a fingertip.
The faceplate makes use of a teardrop form with a high quality purple texture sitting beneath the reflective silver sample.
A small black mesh accent sits close to the decrease nook, whereas the central round motif offers the design a extra ornate, jewelry-like point of interest.
The shell carries the identical purple steel end, with flowing grooves minimize instantly into the physique.
These grooves are actual and tangible somewhat than ornamental paint, making a sculpted floor that continues the decorative theme from the faceplate.
Markings are utterly absent from the earpieces, which retains the EPZ 550 exceptionally clear from each angle.
There are not any seen logos, mannequin names, or channel labels on the shells, permitting the metalwork, etched faceplate, and gold trim to hold your entire design.
A single vent is positioned on the inside rear contour of every shell, positioned above the nozzle space in response to the blueprint.
The vent measures 1.2mm and sits away from the faceplate, maintaining the outer floor uninterrupted.
The EPZ 550 makes use of flush 0.78mm 2-pin connectors set right into a small rectangular black block alongside the higher facet of the shell.
Its metal nozzle measures 6.1mm in diameter, with a steel mesh filter on the opening and a stepped lip construction for ear tip retention.
Consolation & Isolation
For probably the most half, the EPZ 550 shells are pretty normal-sized for IEMs, making it a secure match for many ears with out feeling outsized.
Its teardrop-style shell contours exceptionally properly, filling the ear naturally and forcing its form into place with out awkward stress.
For my ears, the match was wonderful with the shell sitting flush and avoiding any actual protrusion. That low-profile placement additionally makes it usable whereas mendacity down, since its physique doesn’t press outward or create painful contact factors.
For journey, the EPZ 550 is a combined case as a result of the complete purple design is extremely eye-catching. The precise match makes it a real consolation to carry round, although, staying safe and plush sufficient for longer moveable use.
Sadly, isolation isn’t certainly one of its stronger traits, even with the shell filling the ear properly. Outdoors sounds stay audible in conditions the place they usually fade behind the music, so it doesn’t block noise as successfully as I anticipated.
Ear Suggestions
Two units of silicone suggestions in three sizes every are included with the EPZ 550, with one clear set and one white set with a pink stem.
The clear suggestions look like EPZ’s M100 liquid silicone suggestions, which EPZ identifies as medical-grade liquid silicone, and their cheesy, grippy really feel matches that materials description.
The clear suggestions use a large bore with an extended stem, giving them a safer maintain across the nozzle and a stickier seal within the ear.
Their sound change is minimal on the EPZ 550, although the stronger grip helps the bass and treble keep constant by maintaining the seal steady.
The white and pink suggestions really feel extra like conventional silicone, with a powderier floor and a shorter stem. In addition they use an identical vast bore and a largely comparable flange form, however the shorter stem lets them sit deeper within the ear.
Consolation is nice on each units, as every covers the ear canal properly with out inflicting itchiness or stress.
The sound variations are sufficiently small that match turns into the deciding issue, with the clear suggestions providing a grippier seal and the pink-stemmed suggestions giving a barely deeper insertion.
Inventory Cable
The inventory cable is a 4-core 6N OCC silver-plated copper cable completed in a deep purple coloration scheme. Its braid carries small glitter-like gold accents all through the jacket, matching the ornate purple and gold design of the IEMs.
The braid begins with 4 seen strands beneath the splitter, then separates into two strands for either side above it. It feels visually cohesive with the EPZ 550 somewhat than trying like a generic cable included just for perform.
The {hardware} is likely one of the stronger elements of the cable design, utilizing purple barrels with gold caps on the connectors, splitter, and plug housing. The splitter and plug each have a sculpted wave-like floor that mirrors the flowing grooves on the IEM shells.
The cable terminates in a hard and fast 4.4mm balanced plug, so there is no such thing as a modular system or included 3.5mm possibility.
Construct high quality matches the IEM properly from a visible standpoint, however the fastened balanced termination limits direct use with telephones and fundamental sources.
Packaging & Equipment
The EPZ 550 arrives in a protracted rectangular silver field with embossed feather particulars throughout the entrance. The middle carries the EPZ emblem, Purple Phoenix title, and 550 marking in a clear reflective end.
Flipping the field over reveals the specs panel, together with the mannequin, model, cavity materials, driver, and different IEM particulars. The again additionally carries the EPZ Purple Phoenix 550 branding, certification marks, barcode, and producer particulars.
Sliding the entrance cowl out reveals a two-piece inside field with a central break up between each halves. The left facet reveals a small EPZ emblem, whereas the correct facet carries the Purple Phoenix 550 mark in purple.
Opening the inside field like twin doorways reveals a big purple card spanning the middle, with the EPZ emblem on the left and a design inspiration write-up on the correct.
Eradicating it reveals a clear one-layer structure, with the purple carrying case on the left and the IEMs seated above the equipment case on the correct.
The included playing cards are extra fascinating than regular, particularly the phoenix phantasm card that shifts because it strikes. A separate welcome card is included as properly, giving the documentation layer a extra deliberate presentation.
The purple carrying case has a leather-like exterior with Purple Phoenix branding stamped in gold on the lid, whereas the within makes use of a delicate fabric lining that shops the cable neatly.
The equipment case holds the clear silicone suggestions, white-pink silicone suggestions, guarantee card, and consumer information.
Sound Impressions
The next sound impressions of the EPZ 550 had been accomplished utilizing a mixture of the Colorfly CDA-M2 and the Heartfield R1 dongle DACs.
Bass
The EPZ 550 delivers clear bass that prioritizes management and high quality over bodily pressure. It doesn’t sound heavy or weighty, as a substitute appearing as a supportive basis that retains the remainder of the tuning clear.
Its velocity is the primary power, with bass notes beginning and stopping shortly with out smearing into the midrange. This provides the low finish a correct, refined high quality, even when it doesn’t carry a lot energy behind every hit.
Subbass is delicate and stays behind the remainder of the presentation, giving tracks a light-weight sense of depth somewhat than a deep rumble. It isn’t dangerous by any means, but it surely clearly avoids the form of stress and weight that bass-heavy units ship.
The punchiness of its mid-bass is what feels most noticeably lacking, as kick drums don’t land with sturdy affect. There’s nonetheless a slight thump to maintain rhythm sections from sounding empty, however the EPZ 550 doesn’t push mid-bass power aggressively.
Regardless of that weakened power, the drums and bass guitars earn again consideration by wonderful timbre and texture. Each small tonal shift, drum hit, and string element comes by with great accuracy, permitting the whole lot to sound as pure as will be.
Mids
The midrange is completely the star of the present on the EPZ 550, and it instantly stands as one of the crucial wonderful and refined mids I’ve heard.
It will get the whole lot right here appropriate, leaning in the direction of a ahead presentation however in a manner that feels correctly positioned somewhat than aggressively pushed.
The vocals are merely wonderful, coming by lush, pure, clear, and lively. There are sturdy and correct feelings right here that make voices really feel alive, not as a result of they’re exaggerated, however as a result of they sound genuinely appropriate.
Regardless of being a full BA set, its timbre is as pure as it could possibly get, with female and male vocals carrying close to faultless accuracy. Devices comply with that very same stage of correctness, sounding pure and free from the plastic or synthetic tone.
Their tone, texture, and physique all land precisely the place they need to, avoiding any BA timbre that different full BA units have.
Nothing within the devices feels overemphasized or dampened, permitting guitars, pianos, and strings to maintain their correct weight and pure tone.
Even with all that excellence already proven, none of these qualities are one of the best factor about its midrange.
The true standout is its capability to disclose vocal nuances, with the EPZ 550 uncovering new midrange particulars in songs I’ve listened to for years in a manner that genuinely stunned me.
Tiny backing vocals, even the subtlest ones, are introduced ahead with gorgeous readability with out distracting from the primary singer. The little habits in a vocalist’s supply, small breaths, inflections, and phrasing selections are proven with unimaginable precision.
Treble
The treble on the EPZ 550 is nice, persevering with the identical sense of correctness discovered within the midrange. There isn’t any sibilance, no fatigue, and no uncommon peakiness, making the highest finish really feel splendidly managed.
Element retrieval is great, pulling out a number of info with out forcing it ahead too aggressively. It merely lays these particulars throughout the combo, letting every sound occupy its personal place with out making the presentation really feel crowded.
It reveals off its great extension by preserving tiny particulars audibly with out letting the best notes path off too early. This provides the EPZ 550 a spacious and open treble that helps its nice resolving capability with out sounding sharp.
Considered one of its treble’s strongest qualities is airiness, because it offers devices and vocals sufficient room to breathe naturally. It feels correctly spacious and easy, avoiding any cramped or closed-in feeling.
With cymbals, it carries the correct amount of decay, power, and splash whereas staying musical and trustworthy to its lifelike texture. Percussion sounds wonderful right here, with the EPZ 550 capturing the power, texture, and chunk vibrantly clear.
Staging & Dynamics
If not for the midrange, the staging and dynamics could be one of the best a part of the EPZ 550. Its stage is really vast with correct depth and peak, making a holographic, immersive, and open presentation.
Merely unimaginable is how I’d describe the imaging, because it locations sounds with the precise quantity of distance and elevation the observe asks for. If a sound solely wants to sit down barely above one other ingredient, the EPZ 550 locations it there with true pinpoint accuracy.
Layering is superb as properly, with sufficient depth to make sounds seem behind or in entrance of each other. This provides an exquisite and convincing sense of house, making the presentation really feel vigorous and arranged somewhat than flat.
Its separation management follows the identical spectacular stage as the remainder of the technical efficiency. Even within the messiest tracks, the EPZ 550 by no means feels cluttered and continues to maintain every ingredient distinct.
In the identical method, its dynamics are refined as properly, avoiding the flatness that may make technically succesful IEMs sound lifeless. Completely different sounds have their very own loudness to outline the presentation correctly, whereas tiny shifts in depth are conveyed with wonderful accuracy.
Click on on web page 2 beneath for my really useful pairings and chosen comparisons.
