Massdrop x Empire Ears Zeus Universal IEMs

A collaboration with Empire Ears, this is a new iteration of the Zeus XIV: an engineering marvel and the first 14-driver in-ear monitor ever made. This version uses the same drivers as the company’s former flagship—two bass, six midrange, and six treble—along with an identical seven-way crossover circuit to tune the drivers’ frequency response. As a result, the sound is holographic with layered spatial imaging and depth from front to back. The class-leading midrange is flanked by impactful, balanced bass and airy but non-fatiguing highs. For durability, we’ve added a transparent blue ABS plastic shell and faceplate, plus a stainless steel nozzle to protect the four sound bores. The shell incorporates a recessed socket and connector system that's better sealed with far more strain relief. As impressive as the god on Mount Olympus, this Zeus comes for a price that’s a little less high and mighty. 

With the Zeus XIV, the team at Empire Ears challenged themselves to build the most complex, technologically advanced balanced-armature IEM. It was designed specifically to achieve new benchmarks in detail retrieval and resolution by using a state-of-the-art crossover system tuned to magnify the performance of every driver. The finished product surpassed everyone’s expectations, with remarkable 3D imaging, extraordinary clarity, and colossal levels of detail.

Unlike other IEMs, the original Zeus XIV and new Zeus don’t rely on filters or dampers to manipulate the frequency curve. That method of tuning forces the drivers to operate outside of their intended frequency range, often duplicating too many of the same frequencies from numerous drivers—which means you’ll have to turn the volume up to hear what you want. Instead, Empire Ears’ method of tuning allows the drivers to behave naturally, as the crossover network is engineered to assign the proper frequencies and levels to the corresponding transducer. The result is a crystal-clear, full-range frequency response that can be heard even at low volumes. 

Empire Ears has been making waves in the global audiophile community since Vice President of Sales Jack Vang launched a number of products on Kickstarter under what was then the EarWerkz brand. Following that success, the company was renamed Empire Ears and released a now-famous product line named after different Greek gods. Today, Empire Ears makes premium custom and universal in-ear monitors for musicians, recording engineers, audiophiles, and more. 

• John Grandberg on InnerFidelity: "The midrange is clearly something special. Rich, beautifully layered, and just a tad forward in the mix, these have a lifelike quality to them that very few CIEMs can match. And because the mids are so well done, the XIV configuration ends up being quite versatile—from Eden Atwood to Extol, Bearfoot to Benjamin Britten, the original Zeus does pretty much everything well ... The fact that all 14 drivers blend together so well speaks highly of the crossover design. I never get the feeling I was listening to anything other than a single coherent point source."
• Nic Flinkenflogel on Headfonics: "Zeus has a strong and colored personality. Because of the forward midrange, Zeus sounds powerful and stimulating; tones carry weight, while treble sounds smooth and refined. But one of the general impressions is that Zeus’ value is not inherent to its signature. Zeus differentiates itself by its technical capability; the high resolution and 3D imaging ... This combination of clarity and fluency has a mesmerizing effect: a vocal will envelope you, flanked by forward, highly defined instruments and abundant detail. The instrument separation and air between the instruments is the best I’ve heard."
• MikePortnoy on Head-Fi: "... a combination of musicality and technicality. The most impressive parts of the Empire Ears’ flagship are imaging, resolution, and separation."
• QBoQBo on Head-Fi: "Voice of God coming from a thrilling, emotional, natural, creamy, lush, and beautifully layered midrange. I don’t use these words often to describe an IEM, but the mid(s) is really the spotlight of the Zeus XIV. Some may say an IEM sounds more engaging if it presents a V or U shape characteristic. However, the Zeus presents its excitement differently with lifelike layered vocal that sings from different points of direction."
• shotgunshane on CYMBACAVUM: “Vocal nuances leap off the headscape. In one song that I have, background singers whisper from side to side, while the lead vocalist sings dead ahead. These background whispers come from left and right, and slightly behind the ear, like someone is literally whispering behind you and right into your ear. The lead vocalist, though, stays steadfastly in front. Harmonies are the Zeus specialty, and my favorite aspect of its presentation—they just seem to soar with mesmerizing depth.”