Vantage B-Stock
*LIMITED QUANTITY B-STOCK*
The same Empire Ears units you know and love, but with insignificant - often imperceptible to the naked eye - cosmetic imperfections. We have extremely high standards for ourselves and our product, inspecting everything under microscopes, and these are just the units that made it to the final stage of quality control before something was discovered, micro-bubbles in the lacquer for example.
Sonically, these units are pristine, having aced all of our audio quality checks. They also come with the full suite of support that Empire offers. Same sound, same warranty - you've got nothing to lose. All B-Stock sales are final.
After exhaustive testing in studios and stages around the world, our commitment culminated with this: a remarkably smooth in-ear monitor that reigns with supreme clarity across the entire frequency spectrum, the Vantage. The Vantage features a class-leading 4-way synX crossover network to maximize performance from the twin sequential W9 subwoofers and mid/high driver.
Designer's Notes
“The Vantage combines two terms previously believed impossible to be merged: 'audiophile' and 'enhanced bass'. With a primary focus on a smooth and tonally accurate signature, the Vantage is exceptionally suited for those that occasionally enjoy a guilty pleasure when it comes to bass. While its twin sequential W9 subwoofers are capable of producing a significant quantity of bass, it doesn't let the signature get the best of it; in terms of air, transparency, and separation, the Vantage stays true to the core audiophile principles, combining a warmer tuning with a high level of detail. For its bass might be a highlight, but its equally a smooth and musical treble that allows the slightly forward midrange to steal the show.”
Technical Specifications
3 Proprietary Drivers, Hybrid Design
2 W9 Subwoofers, 1 Mid-High
5-Way synX Crossover System
A.R.C. Resonance Mitigation Technology
Impedance: 16 ohms @ 1kHz
Frequency Response: 5 Hz - 40kHz
Sensitivity: 100dB @ 1kHz, 1mW
26AWG UPOCC Litz Copper Cable, Handcrafted by Effect Audio
Proprietary Technologies
Grammy Award Winning Sound
Every aspect of the Vantage was conceived, designed, and crafted to faithfully reproduce what the artist had intended. With the expertise of mix engineers and producers, including GRAMMY Award winner, Jon Jon Traxx, we were able to understand firsthand what they require from in-ear monitors..
synX Crossover Technology
Introducing synX
synX is a supercharged crossover design that designates more individual audio bands per driver than any other crossover technology currently in existence. By creating an ultra-wide, multi-channel highway our engineers can manipulate specific parts of the frequency range in order to precision craft the target response and eliminate any signs of phase incoherence between the drivers. Alternatively, mix engineers and audiophiles will have full control of the drivers when equalizing through a mixing console or digital audio player. synX is the industry’s most advanced IEM crossover technology with each model featuring its own uniquely designed synX network.
synX advantages
synX powered in-ear monitors have remarkably high stereo separation and smooth phase response, leading to more dynamic realistic imaging and staging for both live and studio use. synX features a myriad of other advantages including:
Ultra-Wide Frequency Bandwidth: The Vantage produces a super-wide frequency range, offering listeners unparallel sound quality and details that bests even the most high-end headphones on the market.
Best Signal-to-Noise: In order to ensure that all of the industry-leading sound quality is heard in your ears we’ve worked to create a unique combination of handpicked resistors, electrolytic capacitors, and filters in order to ensure the cleanest signal path possible while offering an exceptionally low noise floor.
Low Distortion: Extremely low distortion means that every nuance in your mix will be reproduced faithfully without audible artifacts.
Maximum Signal Transfer: Every driver and crossover is individually wired and insulated with 7-strand, UPOCC Litz wires to eliminate acoustic feedback and further soldered with highly conductive, ultra pure silver and gold Mundorf Supreme for maximum signal transfer.
Hybrid Technology
The Empire X series model features a combination of both proprietary balanced armature speakers and dynamic range W9 subwoofers in order to deliver maximum clarity while achieving a powerful low end response. Each model is further tuned with a specially designed synX crossover network to achieve studio monitor levels of audio reproduction effortlessly and faithfully.
After nearly 2 years of relentless R&D Empire is proud to announce the Weapon IX (W9), a proprietary 9mm rare-earth magnet subwoofer with the ability to deliver extreme output, accurate dynamics and sublime sound quality all at the same time. The keys to these performance capabilities lie at the very core of its design, where the woofer is enclosed in a tuned bass-reflex system with a front-firing sound port and rear-firing vent for maximum efficiency.
Conventional dynamic drivers and passive radiators (a speaker without the magnet and coil) often suffer in low octave frequencies and are heavily dependent on internal shell enclosures for volume, limiting form factor and vastly reducing efficiency with limited extension. The W9 is superior in its custom port tuned design, reaching frequencies even lower than its target response while mitigating distortion as the woofer isn’t required to move as far near resonance frequency.
Every W9 subwoofer is hand assembled to our exacting quality standards in our Norcross, Georgia laboratory
Proprietary Drivers
The Vantage utilizes a number proprietary balanced armature drivers by Knowles and Sonion, each one purpose built for a specific target response. Our drivers feature specialized reeds and low-mass diaphragms to reproduce incredible detailed, true-to-recording sound while remaining efficient enough to be powered by everyday devices.
Furthermore each Empire driver utilizes a NASA-born ferromagnetic liquid technology, Ferrofluid, to dampen acoustics peaks and reduce vibrations in combination with our A.R.C. technology. The end result is extraordinary clarity and increased shock durability.
Bespoke Handcrafted Cables
Every Vantage in-ear monitor includes a bespoke, handcrafted Ares II cable by Effect Audio. The Ares II boasts a proprietary blend of 26 AWG UPOCC Litz copper with ultra-flexible insulation for maximum signal speed transmission, performance, and ergonomics. Each cable is terminated in an ultra durable 3.5mm, 24k Oyaide gold plated right angle plug. Alternatively, for our audiophile clientele, we also offer 2.5 and 4.4 balanced terminations at no additional charge.
Currently, 3.5 (Standard) and 2.5 cable termination are in stock. 4.4 is on back order.
Effect Audio’s extensive engineering and manufacturing background gives them the edge over all other cables. After extensive testing with numerous other cable manufacturers we’re proud to announce our official partnership with Effect Audio to bring you some of the finest cables in the industry and to ultimately defeat the weak link in IEMs.
A.R.C. Technology
Balanced Armature (BA) drivers are vastly used in the IEM industry due to their small footprint and ultra efficient designs however they suffer from resonant behaviors that may cause peaks, unwanted vibrations, and distortion. To help mitigate this our drivers utilize Ferrofluid between the magnets and armature to provide a wide range of damping values, eliminating the need for a damping screen in the port tube.
Despite this a secondary peak can still occur from the other components interacting with the drivers. Driver peaks can cause fatigue, distortion, and ultimately affect the way music sounds. We sought out to create a remedy for this and after years of relentless R&D we’re proud to announce A.R.C. (Anti-Resonance Compound), a proprietary coating that virtually eliminates unwanted vibrations and resonance from within IEMs.
A.R.C. effectively increases the mass of the components it’s applied to: every driver, crossover, and sound tube. This gives the internals more solidity while serving as a dampener to absorb the unwanted resonance instead of reflecting them out of phase. With A.R.C. clarity is increased substantially, bass is deeper, and the IEM becomes more efficient overall.
What's In The Box
Included at no additional charge with each order.
- In Ear Monitor
- Empire Pandora Case
- Empire Cleaning Cloth
- Empire Cleaning Tool
- Final Audio Type E Tips - SS, S, M, L, LL
Proudly Handcrafted In The USA
Empire Ears has long prided itself for home-grown craftsmanship, with artisans donning lab coats and honing years of OEM factory experience before being entrusted to handle the Empire lineage. While several of our competitors have taken their manufacturing overseas or have turned to automation we’ve remained true to our handcrafted, made-in-USA roots to not only provide jobs to our local community but to ensure that quality is never compromised.
Every Empire Ears in-ear monitor is proudly designed, engineered, and manufactured in Norcross, Georgia USA.
