Audiophilepure

on the left. The IEM looks really nice and I quite liked it.

Build quality is very good as well, as the earpieces are unibody including the nozzles. The sound bores are cut nicely too, and the faceplate closing is perfect. However, the recessed 2-pin sockets could’ve designed better with a deeper fit. It’s a recessed design but it’s actually not fully recessed so the cable connectors move slightly. It’s not a big deal, but I think they can improve that with a fully recessed design all the way down.

The first difference with balanced is that you in single ended configuration get a more intimate presentation, with less space between the notes and an overall less airy presentation. You do get he sense of the IE 900 sounding fuller. The second main impact is on the bass, which in single ended mode isn’t as precise and extended, but it do is fuller and it comes in with more punch and impact.

The third difference is in the top end extension and energy, which now is not as pronounced. And finally the vocals blend in more where they in balanced mode are more upfront. All-in-all you in SE mode get a full sounding, still balanced IE 900. In SE mode it’s a bit more about quantity and presence than it is about transparency and precision, but it’s still very good on all levels.

However, the soundstage is quite narrow and the instruments play a bit close to each other, which creates a cramped feeling at times. The width is not spectacular in this case. The depth is on good levels and there’s good layering here. The only thing missing is the sound-stage width. As a result, the positioning is not the best here.

Tonality is very good, especially when you consider the fact that this is a v-shaped IEM (although not substantially). Instruments have a very realistic tone with good breath, and I especially liked the guitar with the 3DT. The separation is also very good but that takes a hit because of the sound-stage width. The IEM has excellent control, especially in lows.

As befits a flagship IEM the FiiO FD5 Dynamic Driver IEM comes in an elegant magnetic clasp box with a plethora of accessories including five different styles of ear-tips (three of which come in three different sizes while the foam and tri-flange come in two), two interchangeable sound tubes (to accommodate different ear canals as well as offer different sonic properties), three interchangeable audio jack connectors (2.5mm TRRS, 3.5mm TRS, and 4.4mm TRRRS), an expanded MMCX cable with 8 strands of monocrystalline silver-plated copper cable, an HB5 imitation leather storage case, a cleaning brush, and a special Final MMCX ASSIST MMCX detachment tool, along with the obligatory manual and audio jack swap cheat sheet.

For its price, the Legacy 4 has an excellent package and offers a great unboxing experience. Once you open the zippered bag, you’re welcomed with the earpieces, 6 pairs of silicone tips, and a very generous carrying case. The case itself is high quality with protected foam inside. The fact that you can use the big case which stores all the content in itself for other purposes, is awesome.

The build quality is above standard in this market for a budget level like this. The IEM looks very clean, neat, and premium. Although the inside of the shell is painted black, you can actually see the internals under some light. I can say that inside the IEM is nicely packed and clean-cut as well. The tuning switches feel very nice too, and the bass port is beautifully cut. The nozzles have a seamless connection to the shells. Everything is nice and clean here with no worries regarding build quality.

The Audeze Euclid features a wide soundstage with effortless neutrality packing fantastic mid to high range clarity. It’s accurate with the tonality and timbre of wind and string instruments and has an upper mid pronunciation giving it a bit of sparkle there. The general signature can be described as light and with a present but fairly minimal bass response. The vocals suit females more due to its flat mid-range clarity with upper mid boost. I found male vocalists to be decent but the Euclid does miss out on reproduction of the lower-vocal range making it less fitting for husky and deeper voices. The duo between Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga with the song “Shallow” is a good example of this. The earphone can also be sibilant and have a scratchy upper range at times.