EVE20 is not only just a new model by Vision Ears, but it’s an actual beginning of a new exclusive lineup. It is equipped with 6 balanced armature drivers, and it’s priced at 1300€.
Sound quality for the price
Build quality
Value
Packaging
Vision Ears really does wonders in terms of the unboxing experience, and EVE20 is no exception. It comes in a rather huge box painted black and purple, with gorgeous texturing on top.
Inside, you’ll find the IEMs themselves, a round metal case which is a treat to look at, and it’s very functional, providing flawless protection.
Except for that, you’ll find an envelope which contains the manual, warranty card, and some stickers. Underneath, there is a special cutout for the microfiber cloth, a 6.3mm adapter, and a cleaner bottle. You’re getting quite a set of accessories, but you can expect it paying that much for a pair of IEMs.
Build quality
EVE20 is made entirely of acrylic, and to be honest – it doesn’t really impress.
I’ll start with the positives, though. They are very, very light and could be quite comfortable for some (more in the next paragraph). Also, they are free from any air bubbles or imperfections. Vision Ears does an excellent job with acrylic builds…
…but it’s still acrylic, which is quite prone to damages, and it’s simply not really premium. Compared to the new Dorado 2020 or the Ara by Campfire Audio, the EVE20 looks and feels just…unimpressive.
The design is another underwhelming thing – the design is plain, ordinary, and just simply poor. Vision Ears really push the boundaries of the unboxing experience and accessories provided with their monitors. I hope they’ll invest more in the looks and actual build quality of their products in the future.
The cable, on the other hand, is decent. It’s terminated in a 3.5mm jack and uses 2-pin connectors. It is braided and black, which looks good, but it isn’t anything extraordinary. I can’t really complain about it, but there’s nothing to praise either.
Comfort
The comfort of the EVE20 is quite similar to Elysium – well, problematic.
The shells are not really thick, but they’re wide, which causes problems for smaller ears. Once again, I’d highly recommend Vision Ears to add a little bit of thickness and shrinking the lateral size of their IEMs – that would make them much more comfortable for people with small/normal size ears.
My ears are of pretty normal size, and the EVE20 is just not comfortable.
Sound
The EVE20 aims for a specific sound signature, and it’s obvious from the first seconds of listening. It is slightly laid-back, easy to listen to, and is very mid-centric.
The bass response is a perfect start. It is punchy (for the armature driver), detailed and fast.
The focus is being held on the middle part of the bass, which gives it that punch and kick-factor, but it’s nowhere close to the best dynamic drivers.
Nonetheless, it’s a very good performing bass. It has great proportions and doesn’t feel too light or overdone.
Drum kick has a decent impact, the bass guitar provides a great rhythm to the music, and it’s overall pleasant to listen to. Don’t expect a juicy, big, and roaring bass, which you could get from a DD though.
The midrange is easily the best part of the EVE20. I don’t know how, but Vision Ears seems to really master this frequency.
Mids are lush, natural, and simply beautiful with great timbre. Male vocals are a treat to listen to, but they can lack a little bit of body. It’s quite similar to the Ara by CFA, but the latter provides better microdynamics, layering, and texture.
On the other hand, EVE20 is more relaxed, fuller, and delicate in comparison.
The midrange is aiming for an extreme enjoyment based on that lush, soft, and lovely signature. SYML – Hurt for me really shows how good the vocals are in the EVE20, reminding me a bit of the Audeze LCD3. Of course, they are nowhere close as thick and powerful, but the lushness and richness in timbre are quite similar.
Treble is laid-back and delicate, but it also lacks air and detail. Compared to the Ara, it’s not on the same technical level, well, not even close.
I can imagine some people calling the EVE20 dark sounding because of the treble response, and well…they’ll not be too far from the truth.
Dark sound signature is not about this type of playstyle though, look at the previously mentioned LCD3 by Audeze. It’s also laid-back and calm, but at the same time, it provides great micro-details and tends to give you a very natural timbre of instruments and vocals. It’s not really the case with the EVE20, which is a bit too dull and just too safe.
The closest resemblance I know will be the Meze Rai Penta, but yet again, Penta has better extension and more lovely color of the sound in the higher octaves, providing a better overall experience.
The soundstage is quite chimeric. It images extremely well and provides a spot-on separation, but the size is not impressive. It’s somehow narrow and shallow sounding, being not only intimate but quite unnatural.
In terms of holography, though, you’ve got a sweet spot between the proper size of the instruments and the air between them.
Let’s put the Hotel California from that wonderful Hell Freezes Over live concert. Every single instrument is well defined and separated, but overall it all feels a bit…shrunken down and limited.
Compared to the Ara it images somehow similar, but the overall size of the stage is vastly different, with CFA providing a much better sense of airiness and that spectacular, huge soundstage effect.
Summary
Reading the whole thing, you must be thinking – well, that was quite harsh, wasn’t it?
Well, the EVE20 is a good IEM, but having that 1300€ price tag in mind, I’d expect a better build quality, design, and more impressive sound. I can’t wait for the EVE21, though, as there is always some room for improvements. I’m in contact with Vision Ears, and they really appreciate good feedback, so let it be my little stone into making the next model better. I’m listening to the Elysium right now, and I know that these guys really can achieve something extraordinary out of an IEM.
Gear used during this review for the sake of comparison and as an accompanying equipment:
- Headphones – Campfire Audio ARA, Dorado 2020, Vega 2020, Andromeda, Lime Ears Aether R, Vision Ears Elysium, Bqeyz Spring 2,
- Sources– Cayin N3Pro, Cayin N5ii, Fiio M15, Cayin N6ii, JDSLabs Atom stack,
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