Today we look at the Earsonics Elements In-Ear Monitor. It is selling for €399 EUR.
Disclaimer: Elements IEM was provided by Earsonics for this review at no cost. As always, the article reflects my unbiased opinion. We thank Earsonics Audio for the review opportunity.
Earsonics
Earsonics, headquartered in Castries, France, is a boutique firm renowned for its bespoke in-ear monitors and hearing protection gear. Globally recognized, Earsonics has established a significant presence in the industry over the years. My first encounter with them was in 2013 through the purchase of an SM3, whose distinct tonality captivated me, marking the start of my ongoing engagement with their products. While I have experienced most of their universal offerings, except the Grace, the now-discontinued S-EM9 remains a favorite.
What sets Earsonics apart is their ‘house sound’ – a signature tuning that stands out in the crowded audio market. Described as rich, textured, spacious, and warm, this signature sound is also incorporated in the Earsonics Elements, which is what we are looking at today. On Headfonia, we took at numerous IEMs from Earsonics. Here’s a small paragraph from my colleague Berkhan, about the Earsonics.
The French IEM manufacturer is a well-recognized brand with a good reputation among audiophiles. It was established in 2005 by Franck Lopez, and the priority back in the day was to provide good monitoring solutions for the artists on stage.
Then it evolved to be a very popular IEM manufacturer for audiophiles, especially for those who seek out something “different”. We have reviewed lots of Earsonics gear over the years. The S-EM9, ES2 & 3, EM10, S-EM6 v2, ES5, Grace, and the list goes on and on, including the older ones like the S-EM6, EM32, EM64 and the EM6.
Of course, there’s the Purple, Corsa, and the Onyx. However, Earsonics discontinued many of these IEMs. They continue with two universal line-ups called Pro and Audiophile. There are two universal IEMs in the Audiophile range and three universal IEMs available in the Pro range as of now. I recommend keeping an eye on their online shop for their latest releases. The Elements is the newest addition to their creations.
Earsonics Elements
The Elements is equipped with two balanced armature drivers and one dynamic driver per side. This hybrid configuration also comes with a 3D acrylic engine, which is essentially an acoustic waveguide Earsonics has utilized in the past on its more expensive models with metallic chassis, resulting in improved frequency response and phase curve management. The Elements comes with hand-finished acrylic shells that offer a choice of three vibrant colors: Ocean (blue), Fire (red), and Forest (green). The IEM is now available for 399 EUR from the Earsonics Online Store.
- Configuration: 2 BA + 1 DD & 3-way HQ crossover with impedance corrector
- Sensitivity: 122dB/mW
- Impedance: 17 ohms
- Frequency Response: 10 Hz-20 kHz
Packaging & Accessories
The Elements comes in a compact black cardboard box that’s simple and straightforward. When you open it, you’re greeted with a personal message from Earsonics CEO Franck Lopez, written in French, introducing you to the ES family. This is accompanied by an information card outlining the proper use and care of the IEMs, as well as warranty details.
The IEMs are securely housed in a foam compartment and a hard shell carrying case lined with grey fabric just below them. Additional accessories are neatly arranged in a separate cardboard box on the right. Inside the accessories box, there’s a cleaning tool and an assortment of ear tips. Here’s the full list: a pair of small silicone double flanges, a pair of medium-large double flanges, and two pairs of small and medium single flange ear tips. There are also two pairs of foam tips for those of you that require more isolation. Notably, the Earsonics’ signature black double flange tips are versatile; my friend, who generally uses small-sized tips, and I, favoring medium-larges, both find the ES’s ML double flanges comfortable for extended use, which does not happen with any other brand really. Additionally, the Elements come with a 4C ‘HR’ cable, a four-wire, silver, twisted design cable featuring a 300D oxygen-free Kevlar core, anodized aluminum connectors, a 90° bent 3.5mm aluminum plug, and 2-pin 0.78 mm connectors.
Design, Build Quality & Fit
The Earsonics Elements features meticulously handcrafted acrylic shells using medical-grade resin, each adorned with the distinctive ES logo on their faceplates. The nozzles, slightly wider than those of Etymotic or Shure, present a unique design. They’re longer and narrower than Earsonics’ ES and Velvet series. Available in three colors symbolizing the ‘elements’ – Fire (red), Ocean (blue), and Forest (green) – they offer a visual appeal. The review unit is fire (red) finished and has a purple hue under light. At the same time, the edges glow yellow with the refraction of light, which looks quite nice.
In terms of size, the Elements’ shell aligns more closely with the Corsa and Onyx models, known for their metal housings, rather than the more compact ES3 or Velvet series.
The build quality is good, especially considering they are 3D molded acrylic with no significant design flaws. Elements uses 2-pin connectors, allowing easy cable switching. There’s a large ventilation port at the back for the dynamic driver, and it may be the biggest ventilation port I’ve seen in IEMs through my decade-long audiophile journey.
Fit-wise, the Elements is comfortable for my larger ears with wide ear canals, though those with smaller ears might find the size challenging, given the IEM houses only three drivers. This size, larger than the six-driver Earsonics S-EM6v2, which had a smaller form, could be attributed to the inclusion of a large dynamic driver.
The review continues on the next page. Click here or use the jump below.
Page 1: Earsonics, Earsonics Elements, Packaging & Accessories, Design, Build Quality & Fit
Page 2: Sound, Low, Mid, High, Technical Capability, Comparisons, Last Words
