Astell&Kern x Empire Ears NOVUS IEM Earphones

Astell&Kern x Empire Ears NOVUS IEM Earphones

 

Experience audio like never before with the Astell&Kern x Empire Ears NOVUS IEM Earphones, a pinnacle of innovation and artistry in the realm of sound technology. Building upon the success of their first collaboration, the Astell&Kern X Empire Ears Odyssey, the NOVUS sets a new standard in audio excellence.

Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the NOVUS seamlessly integrates the sound and design philosophies of Astell&Kern and Empire Ears, resulting in an extraordinary auditory experience. Developed to extract the pinnacle of sound from the Astell&Kern SP3000T, these earphones combine delicately crafted analog vacuum tube sound with ultra-high-resolution original sound, delivering a flagship sound that is unparalleled.

Featuring a 13 Driver Quadbrid design with components like Dual W9+ subwoofers, Dual High Mass Bone Conductors, Quintuple Balanced Armatures, and Quad Electrostatics, the NOVUS ensures an immersive audio experience across all frequencies. From deep, resonant bass to crystal-clear highs, every detail is rendered with precision and clarity.

The architectural harmony of the NOVUS is evident in its choice of materials, including aerospace-grade 6061-T6 aluminium, Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating, 24k gold plating, and sapphire glass. These materials not only enhance the visual appeal of the earphones but also contribute to their exceptional sound reproduction.

In addition to its advanced sound technology, the NOVUS boasts innovative features such as the synX crossover, Dual Conduction Architecture (DCA), ARC (Anti-Resonance Control) technology, and meticulously calibrated vents for optimal sound fidelity. Paired with the included Effect Audio ARES II Cable, featuring a 4-wire Tribrid structure of high-purity copper and gold-plated silver, the NOVUS offers a truly transformative audio experience.

 

Features

• 13 Driver Quadbrid, Dual Conduction
• 24K Wet Gold Plating Faceplates
• Sapphire Glass
• 6061-T6 Aluminium Shell finished in DLC
• 4-Wire Hybrid Copper, Gold & Silver Cable

 

Novus: Where Artistry Meets Technology

NOVUS has been developed to extract the pinnacle of sound from the Astell&Kern SP3000T combining the most delicately crafted analog vacuum tube sound with ultra-high-resolution original sound. Every component and material has been meticulously chosen without compromise to deliver a flagship sound that has never been experienced before, befitting the highest-grade product and encapsulating the essence of Astell&Kern and Empire Ears.

In an audacious leap forward, the NOVUS collaboration is a beacon of innovation in the in-ear monitor landscape. The partnership marries Empire Ears' relentless drive for excellence with Astell&Kern's renowned audio engineering prowess, setting new horizons in sound fidelity and technological sophistication. The NOVUS is not merely an advancement - it's a revolution, embodying a shared commitment to transcend the conventional and redefine the extraordinary. With each pioneering technology it introduces, the NOVUS stands as a testament to the collective inventive spirit, a fusion of visionary design and unparalleled acoustic performance that will propel the IEM industry into a new era.

 

Quadbrid Design

DUAL W9+

At the core of the NOVUS’ bass response is Empire’s signature Dual W9+ subwoofers standing as the pinnacle of low-frequency finesse. The bespoke drivers are engineered with a unique dual-role functionality: one for bass frequencies, the other for capturing sub-bass depth. This strategic setup enhances the interplay between bass and sub-bass, adding remarkable depth and dimension to the sound and ensuring the Dual W9+ subwoofers consistently deliver an unparalleled low-frequency performance for a legendary bass experience.

DUAL BONE CONDUCTORS

The NOVUS advances bone conduction tech by integrating Dual High Mass Bone Conductors by Sonion, an innovative leap from the single conductor approach. This advanced system features two high-efficiency, high mass membranes that operate in sync, expanding the vibrational range and enhancing the depth and complexity of sound. They excel in capturing intricate nuances, delivering a sound profile that is not only profound in the lower frequencies but also remarkably clear and detailed across the spectrum.

QUINTUPLE BALANCED ARMATURES

The NOVUS transcends ordinary audio experiences with its exclusive NOVA BA drivers: a quartet of custom-designed masterpieces by Knowles. They excel in delivering mid to high frequencies with unparalleled clarity and breathtaking midrange richness. Central to their superiority is a purpose-built quad vent exhaust system that optimises airflow and reduces acoustic impedance. Accompanied by a 5th balanced armature driver, this innovative setup produces a full-bodied signature mid-range for which Empire Ears is celebrated, delivering an unmatched auditory experience.

QUAD ELECTROSTATICS

NOVUS redefines high-frequency audio with its quad configuration of advanced electrostatic tweeters, each equipped with an ultra-light membrane. These tweeters operate based on a sophisticated mechanism involving a diaphragm and two electrodes, with high DC voltage applied creating an electrostatic field. This arrangement allows for incredibly precise audio signal handling, enabling the diaphragm to vibrate in perfect synchronisation with the incoming sound waves through electrostatic attraction and repulsion. The result is unparalleled clarity, pristine separation, and an extraordinary level of detail.

 

Architectural Harmony 

Astell&Kern and Empire Ears deliberately chose materials for their exceptional sound-enhancing qualities for NOVUS. Each component of NOVUS is designed with a commitment to unmatched sound reproduction, ensuring that every design element contributes to an auditory experience that transcends the ordinary.

6061-T6 Aluminium
Aerospace-grade 6061-T6 aluminium, sourced from Japan, was chosen for its structural elegance and superior properties, ensuring NOVUS meets the exacting demands of the sophisticated acoustic design.

Diamond Like Carbon (DLC)
The application of DLC coating is a deliberate nod to the quest for enduring beauty and functionality. This advanced material enhances the visual appeal of NOVUS, allowing the underlying craftsmanship to shine through while contributing to the acoustic integrity of the device.

Gold Plating
With 24k gold plating adorning its faceplate, the NOVUS stands as an emblem of opulence and refinement. Complemented by the DLC-coated logo grid and distinguished gold-plated brand logos, it serves to highlight its unparalleled craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Sapphire Glass
Integrating sapphire glass between the gold-plated faceplates not only ensures protection but also adds to NOVUS' allure, offering a clear view of the intricate logo grid beneath.

 

Additional Features

Bespoke Design
Drawing inspiration from the revered world of Haute Horlogerie, NOVUS was seamlessly woven together with the opulent, detailed craftsmanship characteristic of luxury timepieces.

synX Crossover
Dissimilar from the IEM herd, the sync crossover stands out with bespoke methodology and marries 4 distinct driver technologies ensuring max performance from all 13 drivers.

Dual Conduction Architecture
A commitment to innovation gave birth to the Dual Conduction Architecture (DCA), a groundbreaking approach to sound reproduction that marries air and bone conduction, allowing you to feel the resonance.

ARC
With NOVUS, Anti-Resonance Control technology has been elevated extending its precision to key internal components and harmonising with the frame, an approach that mitigates unwanted vibrations and resonance.

VENT
NOVUS' acoustic architecture necessitated a precise approach to air volume and exhaust design. Through meticulous calibration of the vented drivers' volume requirements, their full potential has been unlocked, optimising output and delivering unparalleled sound fidelity.

Effect Audio ARES II Cable
In collaboration with Effect Audio included is a 4-wire Tribrid structure of 23.7 AWG Litz type 4S, a cable that harmonises high-purity 5N linear crystal Oxygen-free Copper with 4N Gold-plated Silver.

 

Specification

• Drivers: 13 Driver Quadbrid (x2 W9+, x5 BA, x4 EST, x2 Bone Conductor)
• Cable: 4-Wire Tribrid Copper, Gold & Silver 4.4mm
• Material: 6061-T6 Aluminium finished | 24K pure Gold faceplates
• Frequency Response: 5Hz-100kHz
• Sensitivity: 108.1dB @ 1kHz, 1mW
• Impedance: 2Ω @1kHz

 

Box Contents

• NOVUS IEM
• 4.4mm Effect Audio ARES II UPOCC Copper Litz cable
• 4.4mm to 3.5mm adapter
• Assorted Final Audio E-Type Tips (XS/S/M/L/XL) w/ tray
• Pandora V2 CNC aluminium case
• Cleaning Tool + EE x A&K microfibre cloth

 

About Astell&Kern

Astell&Kern is the ultimate digital music source that brings you Mastering Quality Sound or MQS. Astell means ‘Stars’ in Latin and Kern means ‘Center’ in German. We believe Astell&Kern is the center of music.

Today, original music performances can be captured in digital almost exactly as they were performed due to new, advanced recording technology currently available. However, these high quality recordings are mainly listened to through inferior sound formats, such as MP3 or through streaming services. With the debut of the MP3 format, music lovers sacrificed sound quality for the convenience of being able to carry their music collection wherever they went. Because the MP3 format heavily compresses files for the sake of convenience, the vocals and instruments you hear are only an inferior version of the original. The soundstage and the ambience of the original performance often disappears when listening to compressed MP3 music. After pondering these issues, Astell&Kern was our solution to poor sound quality for the sake of portability, and our way in reviving the original sound quality of music, MQS, for music artists, recording engineers, and professionals.

Astell&Kern's pursuit is to provide natural and original sound without distortion. It showcases the presence of the original recording with miniscule details you may not have noticed from other music systems, while playing back high-resolution music bit by bit, exactly as it was recorded. The ability to play back the exact recording of any live performance is what Astell&Kern is known for.

The power of true sound from Astell&Kern can now be experienced and has been part of many famous audio exhibitions around the world. Astell&Kern is now admired by music lovers from many countries, including the USA, China, Japan, UK, France, and many more around the world.