Earsonics ONYX

INTRO

Many thanks to Thibault from Earsonics for providing a sample for this review.

This is not the first product of Earsonics I have an experience with.

SM64, ES3, S-EM6 V2, ES5 – all these IEMs I owned in the past for a long period of time, especially my favorite S-EM6 V2 which I owned for about 3 years - the first reference tuning IEM of the company that time. So, I can differentiate between Earsonics “house sound” and something new and not typical.

Frankly speaking I did not know what to expect when I was waiting for ONYX. The only thing I knew that it should be an IEM and I did not have a clue about the spec or driver configuration.

I could not imagine what the design of ONYX is and how they look like. The box was not that big as I remember it was with my S-EM6 V2. It is more of the size of ES3 box, I think. Looking at the package size I first thought “is this an entry level IEM?” But when I opened the box, I saw these gorgeously looking monitors in mat black.

They are not tiny and the shell can fit quite a big number of drivers.

When I started first listening session next day after its arrival, I tried to guess what is inside these so good-looking shells…it should have 4 or 5 drivers, at least, I thought. Then I stopped guessing and just started listening.

IN THE BOX

Besides the IEM with a nice 3.5 mm jack UnHR 4C cable, we have an accessory box with tips (2 x memory foam, 2 x monoflange silicone, 2 x bi-flange silicon), the cleaning tool, manual and the carry case.

This is more or less typical Earsonics package, I think.

The only difference from a previous generation of IEM I owned is a supplied cable. Now it looks more premium and robust. I cannot judge its sonics characteristics vs previous generation stock cables but it does sound good.

For those who are for aftermarket cables, ONYX have standard 0.78 mm pin connectors.

The only thing you should know is the polarity of ES IEM: “plus” is always the nearest pin to your ear canal. I double checked it with a multimeter.

THE SPEC

I was close in making some early assumptions about number of drivers and that the bass was sounding more “dynamic” than a typical BA type + these ventilation holes on a rear side made me think so.

The picture below is self-explanatory: 1 x DD - lows, 2 x BA – mids, 1 x BA – highs.

Sensibility: 122 dB/mW

DCR: 16,5 ohms

Frequency response: 10 Hz - 20 kHz

Retail Price: 490 Euro

THE LOOK AND BUILD

As I mentioned above, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the box. Black shells with a silver-colored cable looked like a gemstone on the chain.

The bands on the shell remind me a real onyx.

To my understanding ONYX features a new generation shell design: metal outer shell + acrylic structure inside.

I like this Earsonics’ approach

The shell of previous generation of in-ear monitors was (acrylic?) a sort of fragile which can be easily damaged if you accidently drop them on the floor. This is what happened with my pair of S-EM6 V2 in the past. ES5 had the same issue and went through a cosmetic repair in France a couple of years ago.

Looking at new ONYX I see it is built like a tank and nothing will happen to it if a real tank drives over them))

SOUND EVALUATON

Evaluation play list

Avishai Cohen Trio - From Darkness (96 kHz / 24 bit)

Tord Guvstansen Trio - The Other Side (96 kHz / 24 bit)

Alboran Trio - Islands (96 kHz / 24 bit)

BassDrumBone - The Long Road (44.1 kHz / 16 bit)

Jo Kaiat - Come to My World (44.1 kHz / 16 bit)

Sinee Eeg & Thomas Fonnesbak – Staying in Touch (96 kHz / 24 bit)

GoGo Penguin – Man Made Object (44,1 kHz/ 24 bit)

Danish String Quartet – Prism I, II, III (96 kHz / 24 bit)

Kowloon Walled City - Piecework (88,2 kHz / 24 bit)

Ulcerate - Stare into Death and Be Still (44.1 kHz / 24 bit)

Ad Nauseam - Imperative Imperceptible Impulse (44,1 kHz/ 16 bit)

Rome in Monochrome - Away From Light (44.1 kHz / 16 bit)

Carach Angren - Where the Corpses Sink Forever (44,1 kHz/ 16 bit)

Mournful Congregation – The Monad of Creation (44,1 kHz/ 16 bit)

Funeral Moth - Transience (44kHz / 16 bit)

Intaglio – Intaglio (15th Anniversary Remix) (96 kHz / 24 bit)

Reference setup

Roon ROCK > Ifi Audio ZEN Stream > ifi Audio iDSD Diablo > ON

The idea behind the setup is to send a signal as clean as possible from the source to a DAC and ensure that the sound is neutral with no coloration.

This red transportable “devil” paired with the streamer can be considered clean and reference source for any evaluation.

Regarding output power it can be an overkill for ONYX so I was running it in Eco mode via 3.5 mm to 6.3 mm adapter. And I must admit that the background noise is nonexistent with Diablo + ONYX combination.

Sound Impressions

Honestly speaking I was never a fan of a hybrid technology in general.

The main issue for me with hybrids was always in the alignment between BA and dynamic drivers and much slower (maybe more natural at the same time) bass attack and decay.

I have to admit that ONYX does not have those typical hybrid problems to my ears. Earsonics engineers did a great job here.

The first thing which you notice is how ONYX builds the soundstage. It goes wide, behind your head from left and right sides and it goes deep at the same time, being on pair with many TOTL IEM.

The next thing you clearly hear is how transparent the sound is. Clarity is the second key feature of the ONYX.

Basically, the clarity cannot be achieved without a proper tonal balance.

The third and the most important thing is a balanced tonality the ONYX IEM has. I don’t hear any big dips or picks. The sound is full-bodied if I may use this term for IEM.

Bass: hits hard with authority and has enough weight and speed to make kick drums and double bass perform great. It goes deeeep. I cannot say if it hits 10 Hz as written in the spec, but it is deep.

Being under Diablo’s control It does not have any issues with crazy fast dissonant double kick drum pedal work of Jamie Saint Merat from Ulcerate, it does not have issues with a double bass passages of Nick Blacka from GoGo Penguin either.

It requires some burn-in time due to its dynamic nature.

Mids: 2 dedicated drivers deliver all information available in the recording accurately and naturally, with a great tonal balance from lower to upper mids.

Highs: detailed and well extended.

It has enough air between instruments to sound freely without any congestion.

Dynamics and overall resolution are also at a very good level.

Ultra-portable setup

Android phone (LDAC) > Fiio BTR5 > ON

There are no problems for ONYX to perform well with portable devices like BTR5 considering its sensitivity, it does not require a lot of amplification.

Does ONYX sound good on the go? Yes.

Is there any difference with the performance you get with Diablo? Yes, absolutely.

With BTR5 you cannot achieve this level of control over ONYX bass driver or similar tonal balance since BTR slightly boosts bass, but you still enjoy the pair.

COMPARISON

ONYX vs Etymotic EVO ($499)

Comparison is tough to make since EVO is my favorite IEM regardless the price and technology applied. Basically, it is the only multidriver IEM I keep in my collection.

Specs. Build. Look.

EVO is 3 BA (2 x bass, 1 x mids + highs)

Both IEM are built like a tank.

ONYX is slightly bigger in size and slightly heavier.

EVO is not easy to drive IEM with the Impedance of 47 ohms and sensitivity of 99 dB SPL at 0.1V. It will not perform great with weak sources or smartphones. It requires some power to shine.

Whilst ONYX is very sensitive (122 dB) and does not require a power station, more versatile in that regard

Performance

Tonality wise EVO is more linear and reference turning with a slight lift of 2-3 dB in sub bass area below 100 Hz.

ONYX has a different nature here due to a dynamic driver. It has more emphases on mid bass which goes all the way to 180-200 Hz. Quantity wise ONYX has slightly more bass presence in general and it can go deeper while EVO is slightly faster.

Soundstage development is comparable in these two, both sound very wide and deep which is not typical for this price category.

Mids are more linear sounding on Etymotic, basically this is in line with all other their products which are typically mid-centric (4S, 4SR). ONYX is more “organic” and “rich” sounding if I can say.

Both sound clean and transparent. The difference here is that ONYX has a DD bass which adds some warmth to the signature.

Treble clarity and level of details are excellent on both, but the turning is slightly different. Due to a more analytical nature of EVO it is easy to pickup all little nuances in that range while ONYX does not throw it in your face trying to keep the balance between musicality and pure analytics.

Both IEM are very dynamic.

As a summary I can say that both IEM are great with their own features and tuning philosophy.

ONYX will be a better choice if you don’t want to bother about a good powerful source and can use your existing portable DAP/dongle or even a smartphone. ONYX will perform anyway from good to great.

ONYX will be also a better choice for those who prefer dynamic bass and foundation it gives to the sound.

Honestly, I would keep both IEM for different occasions or music genres.

CONCLUSION

I would summarize the sound of ONYX as comfortable and balanced.

It is not too analytical, not being fatigue, and suitable for long listening sessions.

ONYX features an exceptional build quality, and it looks great.

It does not require any serious amplification and can be used with a regular smartphone if needed.

I don’t see any serious cons taking the price into consideration.

Onyx is like a good French cognac which looks nice and tastes great!