Cardas EM5813 IEM Discussions | Drop

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Nov 27, 2019

Mmm... Reading some reviews makes me feels like I want them (mostly for the price and the brand, love their cables) but I will hate them, like my Audioquest Nighthawk I hate them but I wanna keep it because they are different lol it make any sense?? For $100 should I try?

Nov 27, 2019

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derektailor

Nov 27, 2019

TercoThe copper made housing is heavy so the earphone won't stay firm, so the bass response will be bad. (except when you sit down and enjoy it) the cable is a bit hard and heavy. However, if you need the Clear Light, it is a good chance to get it.

Nov 27, 2019

Shanks405

Nov 28, 2019

TercoI’ve got both (Cardas and Nighthawks), and sound is similar - rich, dark, great bass detail. These bathe you in sound rather than shower you with detail - I feel like i’m listening to speakers rather than reference iems, so Cardas marketing this as an EarSpeaker is not innacurate. Particularly enjoyable for live jazz and darker orchestral recordings. A little eq can resolve the treble followed and lightens these up a bit when needed. Comfortable for long listening so long as you aren’t moving around, due to relatively thick and heavy cables (definitely not for mobile use for this reason, but I’ve experienced no problems with microphonics, and I also wear cable “over ear” which resolves cable weight issues.) The fixed cable would sell for well more than this $99 alone. I’m not going to weigh into the “cable” debate here, but if Cable’s are important to you check Cardas website for info on factory mods to convert this cable and iems to MMCX or your preferred termination, and you will have a serious audiophile cable for home listening with this and your other iem gear, and you can make these earphones mobile with a lighter cable. If you think this is your thing, call Cardas before you buy, as this fix is likely to double price of this product and could take a while, but for some it may be more than worth it. When these first came out a number of audiophile reviewers didn’t blink at the $500 list, and even with the cable mod you still get home for about what I happily paid for my set ($250).

(Edited)

Nov 28, 2019

capefearguy

Dec 20, 2019

TercoLike Shanks405, I also have both the AQ Nighthawks and the Cardas EM5813. I find it interesting that both AQ and Cardas claim they made their products sound as similar to speakers as they could. Inadvertently they have succeeded in one thing: they share a similar sound profile. Both have arrived at nearly the same point by using the same goal, despite the differences in mechanicals. The Nighthawks are a polarizing headphone on most forums. You either love it or hate it. I love it and I also like the Cardas, although I am not completely through the recommended break-in period. If you like the Nighthawks, you will probably like the Cardas. If you don't, well …. skip the Cardas. I am on the fence concerning a break-in period. It does work for me, but I attribute that to the brain adjusting to the sound rather than some magic symbiosis of the working parts in the device. My home-grown theory: the brain tries to pull all the sound out of the sources that it can. Until your brain adjusts to the sources (recording, music device like player or phone, and the earphone), the music will not be ideal for that device. For example, listening to the first three themes of Holst's The Planets with a broken-in, more balanced headphone, the lower tones, like the bass and the lower mids, are powerful, but the higher frequencies are clearly present and accounted for. The bass is a stately elephant walking ponderously and carefully among a crowd of people. With the Cardas, the bass is a brontosaurus stomping pygmy's and you barely notice the fleeing higher frequencies. After the Nighthawks were broken in, I heard a lot more detail in the music. More, I think, than most people who have only listened to them a few times are willing to concede. I am hoping the same thing happens with the Cardas. In the end, though, they will be a different profile even after break in. Like different recordings done by different orchestras and conductors, they interpret the music. To like a device, you have to share that built-in interpretation. Cardas is one of the few brands that makes both quality IEMs and cables. I assume, therefore, that Cardas has matched the cable's electronics and acoustics perfectly. However, the cable's ergonomics are a complete annoyance. It's too long for most casual listeners and very heavy. Not to mention it has a mind of it's own; the thing starts curling and moving like a nest of snakes if you are not careful. Moving with the cable is difficult; this is the first time that I have ever had to use a shirt clip. And while it slithers and slips the microphonics sound like it's hissing a pre-emptive strike. Because of the cable, the Cardas is best enjoyed sitting or reclining motionless. Despite it's quirks, I find the Cardas very enjoyable. Heavy, thick lower tones dominate, but this is a good iem, so all the music is there. At the Drop price, it's definitely a bargain.

Dec 20, 2019

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