Craft Ears Omnium Review 

Intro 

Hello, this sound review and feature covers the latest from a truly premier audio brand named Craft Ears, and the set I’m referring to is the Craft Ears Omnium. The Omnium ($2,600) has a very unique tribrid driver configuration (1DD, 1PL, 5BA’s) and to say I was excited to hear how Craft Ears implemented those drivers is an understatement. Craft Ears has a long history now of producing some of the finest earphones on the market. Granted, this is the only Craft Ears product that I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with. However, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t more than thrilled to be able to spend time with this set and explain my thoughts about it. I should also note that I received the Omnium as part of Audio Geeks United States review tour. So, thank you very much Audio Geeks and thank you Craft Ears. Truly, when it comes to spending my quality time with the Omnium in my ears… the pleasure is all mine! 

Craft Ears

If I’m being honest, I really didn’t know much about Craft Ears previous to a couple years ago. I’ve seen their extensive website and checked out their products, but with three kids, a mortgage, and a bunch of other things which drain my money I simply don’t have the funds to attain any of those fine products. So of course, I look from afar, nod my head, looks amazing … maybe one day. It wasn’t until Audio Geeks made this feature possible that I began checking out Craft Ears origin story in greater curiosity. It took no time to be impressed folks. The Craft Ears journey is a cool story. The brand was conceived only in 2019, out of Poland. That’s going on six years ago. I had no idea. However, this brand was born from the passion of one man. This man goes by the name of Jedrek. A musician, drummer, music producer, with a background in engineering and apparently, he’s also a very talented and outgoing person. Craft Ears has a series of videos in their “About us” section of their website which explains this origin story, spoken by the man himself. Years ago Jedrek decided that he’d simply craft and create iems for himself and after much trial and error he began to hit his stride. Thus, in a very condensed format, Jedrek founded Craft Ears. At any rate, it’s fairly obvious that Craft Ears has some extremely talented people and a penchant for creating not just iems, but works of art and passion. I couldn’t be more impressed. By the way, I shortened this story so much that it’s almost criminal. I can tell you for sure that I am most definitely a fan now. How could you not be? 

Without further ado… 

Folks, I am thrilled to be able to spend good and quality time with the Omnium. I have nothing on hand for a good comparison, but I have two ears and an interest in providing you the best explanation of the Omnium, to the best of my ability. With all of that said, I think I’m ready to get this review going. So, without further ado, the Craft Ears Omnium everyone… 

*Note: I need to note that this review is only a “sound review” as I did not receive any of the packaging or accessories involved with the packaging. The only thing that I received was the earphones themselves as well as the beautiful cable. I can only speak on what I experienced first hand. 

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:

–craftears.com

Disclaimer:

I received the Craft Ears Omnium from Audio Geeks United States Tour and from Craft Ears as a loaned tour sample. In exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. Again, this set is a tour unit. Craft Ears has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to Audio Geek/Craft Ears, and thanks for reading.

Omnium Pros

-Wonderful Build

-The design and choice of custom designs is ridiculously classy, and unique 

-Holographic, euphonic stage, great depth

-Detail retrieval is very nice, very resolving per the signature 

-Imaging is spot on

-Warm/neutral, pristine sound 

-Organic timbre 

-Guttural, bellowing deep bass with natural decay

-Rich, musically infused midrange that’s just as talented with the technical stuff

-Treble is stellar, easy going, nicely detailed, great extension 

-Simply a very fun and also highly addictive sound, very engaging

Omnium Cons

-Very large set of earphones, may not fit everyone’s ears perfectly

-Sub-bass may be a hair too lifted for some folks

-Not for treble heads

Gear used for testing

–Ifi Go Blu 

–EPZ TP50 

–EPZ TP35

–Aful SnowyNight

–Shanling H0 

–Fiio Q15 

–Hiby R4

–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2 

–Shanling M6 Ultra

Build / Design / Internals / Fit 

Build Quality 

The Craft Ears Omnium is simply built wonderfully. Enough said. I find the Shells to be very intricately crafted with precision as Craft Ears used a special 3D printing tech to create the housing of the Omnium. The faceplates have a slick looking carbon fiber design with polished acrylic resin covering making a very well developed and totally unique look. The nozzles actually have a slightly deeper fit than average, yet is built to a perfect angle for my ears. I mean perfect! I couldn’t get a better seal. At any rate, the Omnium is built in a stellar fashion which exudes durability. It’s something you feel when they’re in hand. Very nice in its structure. I don’t see any extra ventilation holes. No where on the front or the back. That said, I also don’t get any annoying suction issues either. However, what this build style does accomplish is truly awesome passive noise isolation. Craft Ears states in their promotional material that the Omnium will afford you at least -26 db’s of isolation. That’s pretty awesome, if you didn’t know. Great for on stage and casual listening as well with no sound leakage. Folks, the Omnium is a structurally sound set with adequate weight, and certainly bulky. Still, I think this set is made with attention to detail and with strict scrutiny over the whole process. 

Design

Now, the design is one which is an actual art piece. The colors, the contrast, the materials, they all come together to form one of the better looking iems out there. Now, nothing is for everyone, but I cannot imagine many folks who wouldn’t feel that the Omnium is one of the sleeker looking iems on the market. Like I said earlier, you can actually change the design to fit your preferences with many options at the Craft Ears website. That said, I’m only speaking on the standard model here today, naturally. Still, the standard model is absolutely gorgeous! Again, it has a carbon fiber faceplate design with a high polish imported resin coating while an 18k gold border encircles the faceplates. Each one meticulously made, by hand, from a team of folks with more than 10 years of experience. Friends, hear me out. My pictures do not do this set justice. I tried, and I tried hard to capture the fibers in the faceplates, or the black-on-gold colors distinctly coinciding to form what I’d consider a small work of art. It’s just clean, from front to back. Basically, when the Omnium is in hand and in the ear you can see with perfect clarity what it is that you are paying for. 

Internals

This brings us to the Internals within the Craft Ears Omnium. I have to be honest, one of the largest reasons why I even wanted to hear the Omnium was because of the elaborate driver configuration. Again, the Omnium has a tribrid setup with a total of seven drivers separating the frequency by way of a 6-way crossover. Before I explain the drivers, I’ll first mention that Craft Ears employed their very own trademarked Space Expanse System named SES 3.0 as well as their own trademarked True Load “flat-impedance” technology. Friends, I really tried to find out more about this tech but there isn’t much that is readily available. However, one of the cooler things is that the Omnium presents a tubeless design along with what Craft Ears calls “custom-tuned acoustic chambers and resonators”. Needless to say, this type of internal structure obviously requires prolific engineering and understanding of acoustic principles. They did the work, and we benefited. 

Drivers 

Back to the drivers, Craft Ears decided to go with seven drivers in total using three different types of driver tech. They went with an amazing 9.2mm LSR (liquid silicone rubber) dynamic driver to cover the lows. LSR drivers are known for their bone rattling dense bass and impactful, punchy qualities when well implemented. I’ve tried a few other sets using LSR drivers and the Omnium is clearly the best. Next, Craft Ears went with a 10mm planar magnetic driver to cover the midrange. This is the one I was curious about the most. For the upper-mids they used one balanced armature driver. I have no idea what make and model of any of the BA’s. The highs use two additional balanced armature drivers, and the upper treble is also covered by two balanced armature drivers. So, as you can see it’s a pretty eclectic mix of drivers which encompasses this tribrid set. I should also mention the complexity involved in crafting a set with this many drivers, different styles and types of drivers, and doing so in a coherent manner harmonizing all of the qualities of each driver. This is no small feat folks. The people of Craft Ears should feel proud over this one. They sound fantastic! 

Cable

I should also speak on the cable provided with the Omnium. After all, it’s the only accessory that I have at my disposal. Having said that, I know almost nothing about this cable. Other than the fact that it is in fact a 2-pin cable with a 4.4 balanced termination, it’s 1.5 m in length, and the cable is made using silver-plated OCC copper materials and gold-plated jacks. As far as materials used, that’s all that I know. As far as the look; it’s a nice cable. The Omnium deserves a quality cable. I wouldn’t say it’d be my first choice, but a nice cable, nonetheless. So, it’s a copper colored cable which actually looks great when paired with the Omnium. I feel the PVC outer insulation is pliable, rolls up nice, isn’t microphonic to my ears either. Not bad at all. I used this cable for about half of my critical listening. However, I also decided to upgrade the cable using an Effect Audio Eros S ii (series 2) cable just to hear if there was a slight difference. The sound using the Eros S ii was a small upgrade which seemed to fit the Omnium very well. That said, the included cable is perfectly fine and does exactly what it’s supposed to do. Again, it wouldn’t be my first choice, but if I was stuck on an island alone with my dap, the Omnium, and the included cable… I’d be perfectly happy. At least until my battery died. Not bad at all. 

Fit / Comfort 

As far as fit and comfort is concerned, you have to know that I have zero idea how this set is going to fit you. I’ve said this in every past review and it’s just as relevant now. As for me, the Omnium literally couldn’t fit better. I don’t have big ears either and the Omnium is quite chunky. Be that as it may, the nozzles have the perfect angle which seats wonderfully in my ears. I get a nice seal everytime and the bulk of this set isn’t a concern at all. Yes, this set is big, and yes, the fit is deep, but the ergonomics of this set is very good, for me. Obviously, the comfort is also very nice. I’ve had many multi hour sessions and never once did I get irritated with how the Omnium fit my ears. So, it’s subjective and we’re all different, but I really feel that the majority of people will have zero issues, just like me. 

Drivability 

Output Power 

Friends, I looked everywhere but I was unable to find an actual sensitivity of the Omnium. However, I was able to conjure up the rated impedance which is right around 12 ohms. I suppose the sensitivity numbers aren’t all that important because I thankfully have my ears to guide me. From all of my sources I honestly never had an issue. Even less powerful sources worked just fine. However, folks, this set deserves and desires some good and strong output from whatever device it is that you choose. Without question! Feed it some power. I promise it will reward you. Also, how many people are buying the Omnium at $2k without also having a quality source? It’s almost a crime to pair a dongle dac with this set, but lo-and-behold… they actually sound fantastic when I used the 4.4 balanced port on my devices like the EPZ TP50, Aful SnowyNight, and about 15 others that I’m not willing to jot down here. I mainly used my Fiio Q15 on high gain, my Shanling M6 Ultra (also high gain), as well as a few other daps and it is very apparent to my ears that power brings out the best in this set. Now, it doesn’t have to be 10,000 watts but give the Omnium some juice. You can thank me later. 

Source Pairing 

As far as tonal pairing of the Omnium with my source devices. After listening to over 20 different devices in the time I’ve had the Omnium, I personally enjoy a warm/neutral to neutral source device. Now, the Omnium is just that… warm/neutral. Or, mostly neutral with an ever-so-slight warmth captured within its tonal coloration. That said, I absolutely adore this set with my warm/neutral Shanling M6 Ultra. Just wonderful. Something about how crisp this set can sound, how clean-lined it is, and how utterly spacious the stage is that having a warmer source didn’t exaggerate whatever warmth the Omnium is perceived to have. No veil, nothing blended or too congested sounding either. In truth, I found the Omnium to mesh very well with most sources. Please take note that the Omnium really does have some significant changes per what source you do choose. Now, I don’t think it’s very “picky”. Meaning, the sound will truly be great no matter what you choose. But it will adapt to the source and you will have tonal changes, so I’d choose the source which fits you. One more point, I would certainly try to pair the Omnium’s with your best sources. No doubt this is a set that will reward you for feeding it with cleaner and more sonically gifted devices. 

Sound Impressions 

*Note: I mentioned it in the intro but I’ll mention it again, the Omnium came to me from Audio Geeks USA Tour provided from Craft Ears. What this means is that I received this set after many folks had already had a chance to listen. I say that because I have zero idea if burn-in is necessary, or not. Sorry for that. Also, I listen almost entirely with flac or better files which are stored on my devices. I mainly use UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) as my Android music player as well as occasionally use Hiby Music Player as well. 

What’s it sound like? 

The Craft Ears Omnium is truly a special iem, from so many angles. Every way you turn the Omnium you’re actually seeing the epitome of the word “premium”. Luxurious in how it’s outfitted, upmarket and upscale in every way. However, brush all of that aside. Folks, if it doesn’t sound good then everything else is a golden ring in a pig’s snout. One thing I found out right away is that the Omnium absolutely fits the bill of a flagship caliber iem from a flagship caliber brand. The type of set which reminds those who berate companies for their kilo-buck offerings that there is in fact… levels to this game. Make no mistake friends. Without question the Craft Ears Omnium is one which resonated to the umpteenth degree with me and one which I have taken every second that I’ve had to engulf myself in its sound. After all, it isn’t every day that I am able to hear a set of this quality. I’m going to get the most of it. 

Well represented 

In my opinion the Omnium hovers right around warm/neutral and comes across in a mostly speckless manner (for the tuning) and a very full sound with a smoother demeanor. A subtle warmth evokes a certain organic quality that the Omnium has. It’s a realistic tinge towards the natural. Authentic in its timbrel approach and aided by a holographic, almost euphonic stage showing off every front to back tier of sound that my music asks of it. Somehow Craft Ears crafted this tribrid set with the cohesion of a single DD, yet with the fairly clean-cut separation, depth of field, and distinct note outlines of a multi-driver iem. Basically, every solid quality of every driver used in the Omnium is tailored wonderfully to the target that Craft Ears was shooting for. Add to that, every area of the mix is well accounted for and very well represented. I’d say the Omnium is a nice mix of technically able and musically inclined. It’s a very smooth operator through and through, yet doesn’t lack the knife-edged definition needed for certain tracks, certain instruments, and overall note definition when a track requires it. There’s plenty of upper frequency brilliance to illuminate the subtle details, with some caveats that I’ll explain later. Maybe not the most exciting set on planet earth but man does it have its rewards. 

Super condensed sound between the 20’s

I’d say the Omnium carries a U-shaped sound signature with a focused sub-bass lift and again, a fairly brilliant upper half of the frequency. The sub-level of the bass is an absolute banger! It hits hard! Deep! The mid-bass is more slender and not as impactful but has enough boom for most genres. One things for sure there is no shortage of texture, and it comes across very well contoured and clean. Now, the midrange is dynamic, pristine, lean in body but dense in perceived mass with a clean contour to notes and never really recessed to my ears. The mids are forward, snappy, yet not without some form of musicality. Each midrange note has good clean-lined presence, leaner in body but still rich. There’s authority in the midrange presence, the lean density. The Omnium also has better detail retrieval than I would’ve guessed and does so with the help of tight transients, a glass-lined surface texture, along with a widespread, tall, deep, but also fairly intimate stage. Separation is nice, Imaging is spot on and I hear fantastic layering of sounds. In fact, that’s one of my favorite aspects of this set. 

Bass Region 

The Omnium is not basshead. Let’s just get that out of the way now. I’m sure if Craft Ears wanted to they could produce one of the most amazing basshead sets on the market. However, the Omnium is not it. Now, this set is certainly “partially” tilted that way as the sub-bass has a mean lift with plenty of emphasis enforcing the lowest of the lows. In my opinion the Omnium is just above moderate in its low-end muscle with a densely weighted sound down low which can get flat-out jarring when a track calls for it. Now, the low-end mostly keeps to itself. This is not a bass region which enforces its warmth and weight to every far corner of the frequency. Craft Ears is better than that folks. What they did was roll off the mid-bass just enough to leave pristine mids. In fact, the bass flattens right at about 150hz. Having said that, this somehow doesn’t take away from the mid-bass boom as I thought it might. Perhaps on some big bass drops I could use more oomph and boom muscle as the lows are missing just a touch of impact due to the roll-off. But I really wasn’t missing much of anything besides those rare instances. The truth is, the low-end has plenty of body and meat for most any genre. Not to mention that the bass region as a whole is very well defined, very clean, and not even hinting at anything one noted or blended. I hear excellent texture, nice layering of the bass, and I can certainly feel the low-end rumble. So, it could use a hair of impact, and the Omnium may not be the mid-bass boom king. If those are the only downsides thus far then… I’d say the Omnium is doing pretty good. 

Sub-Bass

Like I said, the sub-bass region houses the most of the Omnium’s low-end emphasis. That said, I should prepare you for just how bone rattling this sub-bass can get. This 9.2 mm LSR driver was absolutely put to the test during my critical listening “bass playlist” and passed with flying colors. The sub-bass enforces its will on the track “Groove” by Ray Wylie Hubbard. Every undulating and quivering note is met with some of the deepest droning haptic growl that I’ve heard in awhile. Really, the Omnium provides a very hardy and robust rumble and vibratory feel to my music. In the same breath, I hear a very streamlined cleanliness without the usual fuzz floating around at the crest of every note. Sub-level notes are hard edged, well contrasted, dynamic, and they can take on some very fast bass passages with relative ease. I fell for the mixture of mass and speed when listening to this set. How the driver can attack fast, hard, and with a concrete style note surface, full of dense meat, and then decay and recover with precision. Notes are rounded, well dimensioned, never flat, always full, never pillowy, and always clean. Really a nice job here. 

Mid-Bass 

Again, the mid-bass does have a slight roll-off, but somehow, I hardly ever miss whatever it is that it’s supposedly missing. There’re a few tracks missing that last little bit of added weight in this region, but really the mid-bass still carries a decent boom. I’d say it’s very well put together. The mid-bass has very decisive and very firm notes with usually very explicit note outlines. Well defined, punchy too. Couple those descriptors with the aggressive sub-level palpable drone and what you get is a very well-rounded bass. Lucas Graham has a track called “All of it All” and right away the Omnium reminds me why I should never look at a graph. This is one of those tracks which calls on some meat in this region and the Omnium delivers. However, it’s in tandem with the presence from the sub-bass which almost bolsters this region. Or Sun June in the song “Everything I Had”. Right at the outset of this song you’ll hear the bass guitar’s fullness. It bellows, pregnant with a low drone yet concise at the edges. No extra fat at all. Lean, yet dense. If that makes sense. There’s an organic depth and timbre along with a natural decay that creates a very atmospheric sound while at the same moment that full bass never seems to mask over other frequencies. Really a well-controlled bass in general. 

Downsides to the Bass Region 

Without a doubt the number one thing that you may want to watch out for is the sub-level emphasis. It’s hefty, meaty, guttural to the core. Not everyone desires such a sound. In the same breath, there’s almost a lack of impact at times too. Not every track either. However, I can attest that on some tracks you’ll feel as though you are slightly missing something. Very rare, very few and far in between, but it exists with the Omnium. Definitely, there will be those who want a more balanced sound, less coloration. However, with this sub-level emphasis I don’t hear any distortions, and it’s never so emphasized that it obscures other elements in the mix. I also wouldn’t go so far as to call it bloated either, It’s way too clean for that. To flip that coin, there will certainly be bassheads who actually desire more than the Omnium can give them down low. I mean, you have to be a bona-fide bass junkie, but they are out there. To finish this section, I just want to declare that I love this bass. For so many reasons and from many tracks. I love the speed, the bulbous body, the decisive and dense notes. Just really nice. 

Midrange

This brings us to the midrange. I hear a mostly warm/neutral midrange with a forward tilt, perhaps making the soundstage come across a slight bit intimate. Yet the stage also comes across wonderfully holographic with great layering of the sound field. As far as note weight goes, I’d probably refer to the midrange as lean-lush in its approach. Less like a milkshake and more like skim milk. It is milky though, with a silken sound and moist notes which never really come across “traditionally” thin, dry, papery, or anemic to my ears. I suppose the midrange is a hair lean, but somehow it does have adequate body across the mids due to the density of each note and the black background. Again, there’s a richness to the sound which is completely enthralling. Couple that with a very engaging and immersive soundstage presentation and what you get is a wholly captivating and charming sound. To add to that, Craft Ears was able to draw enough solid emotion from my music, with enough smoothness, and enough wetted body to keep from sounding analytical. Truth is, I could definitely use a hair more warmth to embolden the low-mids a bit more. But please trust me… I’m not complaining. After a few songs I began to melt into this midrange and all questions about warmth and note weight flew right out the window. This lean-lush approach is partially caused because the low-end really doesn’t encroach at all into the midrange, leaving a very pristine sound in this region without any chance at any veil or any muddiness in my music. 

Mids cont… 

Now, the Omnium midrange does borrow some vibrancy and crisp snap from the opposite end of the spectrum, leached from the treble region. Enough of a pointed and acute snap on attack for instruments such as snares, cymbals, adding that satisfying abrasiveness for strings with very nice harmonics. Generally speaking. Also brass or woodwind instruments have enough energy to never come across dull but rather pronounced and with great presence in the mix. Of course, not every track is the same but by-and-large the Omnium does sweet justice for most instruments. Also, the Omnium doesn’t have an ultra-contrasted and rambunctious presentation. Yes, it has good energy, but that energy is well regulated, well structured, never loose or sloppy and never too vivacious. It’s controlled, clean, and each note sounds cropped, trimmed, and shaped enough to pull nice separation of instrumentation along with plenty of air in this region too. Also, I don’t hear anything I’d call shouty, sibilant, or metallic, and the cohesion of the drivers is out of this world. Timbre leans natural to my ears with a nice attack and a natural decay to most notes. Resolution is pretty darn nice in this region too with good note definition, separation, and air to the sound. The Omnium is not tuned to be a detail beast, but in my opinion, it illuminates the subtleties very nicely. Really an all-rounder style which should fit many hobbyists quite well. 

Lower-Midrange

If I were to characterize the low-mids, I’d say “lean n’ clean”. Now, “lean” is not a downside in my eyes. Perhaps for lesser quality iems which come across more dry, papery, and less concrete in body. However, the Omnium is none of those things, but instead the Omnium presents stuff like male vocalists very favorably against the rest of the mix. They come across substantial in the face of that lean structure. You have this lean-muscle mass style of fast twitch transient behavior in a fluid manner with a smooth body, crisp at the edges, well defined, and nicely etched in the face of a black background. Can a set of earphones come across both lean, and… meaty? Well, I suppose they can. Is the greatest contributing factor the tuning, the drivers, maybe a little of both? That said, the low-mids do come across with a subtle warmth. Not a lot, but it’s there. They aren’t dead neutral. I’d say toeing the line closer to warm/neutral, yet with one foot leaning closer to the neutral side. Oddly enough, there is just enough warmth to give instruments and male voices a palpable sense to my ears. There’s texture in these low-mids while layered sounds project some dimension into my music. Notes have a certain roundness to them. Of course, I could repeat this same thing in every area of the mix. Another thing I think is great is how well Craft Ears tuned this set and all of its drivers to come across uniform and very cohesive. Every transition sounds nicely blended. 

Low-mids cont… 

I definitely hear an almost glass-lined inflection at the crest of most notes. For instance, “How it Feels” by Zayn shows off his hearty yet raspy voice. With the Omnium in my ears, the note edges of that rasp aren’t exaggerated. So easily his voice can sound almost sharp. Especially when too much vibrance is added into the equation. What I enjoy about the Omnium is that his vocals remain in control throughout and never lose the note outline. He sounds knife edged without sounding abrasive. He sounds illuminated in the midst of solid underlying density and a very focused clarity. Almost as though his (and many other males) vocals sound embossed, with great presence, and a certain governed vibrancy. Again, I could use a hint more warmth here and generally I feel that males and certain instrumentation benefit greatly with a thicker and more hearty sound. However, it’s almost as though I’m hearing my playlist tracks for the first time going through many male lead songs just to hear how the Omnium will portray these tracks that I know so well. I gotta tell you all, the sound is so clean, transients are rapid, quick in decay, without lagging harmonics blending surrounding notes within the sound field. What’s left is very bold fundamental tones and a more sculpted body as a whole. It’s hard to not be impressed with this one folks. 

Upper-Midrange 

The upper mids come across more forward than the lower half of the midrange mix, which is pretty much customary in most sets. The Omnium can at times come across with a hint of glare. I suppose this is from the quick and steep pinna rise. Having said that, I don’t mind it at all. Perhaps not perfectly natural but with a nicely energetic sound which almost sounds capped-off so as not to induce too much brightness and luminosity into this region. Just enough to add some sparkle to the upper-mids, some shimmer, some strategically placed luster to female vocalists and instruments. Now, if you are sensitive to a pinch more vibrance in this area than you may want to look at other options. As for me, I actually really enjoy how Craft Ears tuned this region. I hear a nice crispness, some crunch, and a very resolving sound which draws out every last little micro-dynamic and micro-detail. Transparent, well-resolved, clean-lined, and once again there’s a smooth underlying fundamental tone. Usually. Every track is different but for the most part the Omnium has a magical ability of being many different descriptors at once. The upper mids once again pull off a very full sound while keeping a leaner demeanor. It’s the way female voices and instruments sound well projected, impelled towards the listener. 

Upper-mids cont… 

Also, the Omnium doesn’t leave out the emotion from my music. Like the song “I Can Change” by Lake Street Dive. Friends, there is a fullness that resonates in a very lovely manner. Feather-soft at the outset of the song to resounding at the drop of a dime. Yes, there’s a pinch more outward radiance and candor, but I feel this helps to propel her vocals. Every intonation of her voice sounds both clinical and emotionally gratifying. Enough to not come across analytical anyways. Again, there’s still a large enough musical influence on the sound and enough body to her vocals. Every reverb & secondary harmonic of the acoustic guitar which strums alongside her vocals comes through crystal clear. Once more, depending on your preference, this region’s ear gain may just bring you right to the cusp of your tolerance, only to stop short of anything offensive. This rise adds a sense of air to the sound, some space, solid separation, and helps to illuminate those subtle details. You see, the Omnium is not one of those sets with forced resolution in an attempt to draw those subtleties to the surface, which usually comes across grating. The Omnium isn’t that at all. Everything is under control, every note is contoured, every last accentuation and modulation of her voice is form-fitted and moist, never dry. 

Downsides to the Midrange 

I could list a few potential issues that some may have. All subjective tuning preference stuff. Like, the midrange is not a very thick and lush sound and those who desire that warmly weighted and mass filled sound will not exactly get that here. Again, this set leans analytical and while its notes do have nice density, they aren’t thick. Also, the pinna rise will likely be an issue for anyone sensitive to it. There’s no shortage of folks who want a less vibrant upper-mid to lower treble, who get fatigued very easily. While I have absolutely zero issue with how Craft Ears tuned this region, I still know that there will be plenty who’d be better served checking out other sets tuned more to their liking. In truth, I find the upper-mids very tasteful and they really do well to highlight all the technical stuff very well. I could also say that the Omnium definitely has a “quasi-natural” sound. Almost there. Perhaps the drivers themselves and their outright ability (transient swiftness, speed) along with the slightly boosted ear gain keeps the Omnium from coming across perfectly organic. In my opinion I’d take this tuning every day of the week as it has way more wonderful qualities than anything else, but it isn’t perfectly authentic to life. Close though. I suppose I could also add that the sound is so clean and so precise at times that the Omnium will likely uncover the issues of poorly recorded and lesser quality tracks. This is one of those things that reviewers say, “audiophile speak”, but there’s some truth to it. 

Tolerance

Everything comes down to your tolerance for everything mentioned and your preferences. For me, I get lost in the sound of this set. The way it layers the stage, the 3D style dimensions of the sound field, the distinct separation, the wonderful cohesiveness, the nice mix of musicality and technical ability, the snap, the crispness, the controlled vibrance; It all adds up to a very compelling and completely engaging sound. You are getting what you pay for with the Omnium. Nice work Craft Ears! 

Treble Region 

The treble is one of nicely feathered-in brilliance and a very cohesive rendering of this region. I wouldn’t call the treble “energetic” as it comes across a slightly more calm, easy in the ears, less intense as a whole up top. Coming out of the upper midrange you have a quick dip at 6k in what most consider the “presence region” and then a linear ride on-out to the upper treble. Like I said earlier, you won’t have any of that forced-resolution which comes from boosting the treble region in an attempt to add more resolve, details, etc. What you usually end up getting is an artificial sounding treble with over emphasized peaks that usually end up causing fatigue. Not with the Omnium. Actually, I find the Omnium is tuned very nicely offering a smoother take on this region. Great for long listening sessions. I can tell you that the Omnium’s treble probably wouldn’t be the first choice amongst die-hard treble-bois. The Omnium simply isn’t tuned with the sort of emphasis and focus within the treble region that most treble heads prescribe to. That doesn’t mean it isn’t talented, very well defined, nice crispness, adequate treble bite, and solid extension though. Also, the treble still provides the rest of the mix with some solid air, openness, and levity, or luminance. Furthermore, the Omnium never sounds congested, or constricted, never dull and never boring. The treble simply isn’t boosted to the stars. Craft Ears made it palatable for the average listener and I can really respect that. 

It fits the character of the tuning

Like I said, the Omnium has plenty of edge to the sound which helps in adding some bite to notes but more than anything this is a smoother treble. The body to most treble notes is nice too and there is some tactile feel up top depending on the track or recording. Basically, just because you don’t have that ultra contrasted and dynamic treble doesn’t mean it isn’t a good treble. Craft Ears tuned the highs to fit the overall character and target they were going for. I’m sure if they wanted to craft and create the ultimate treble head set, they probably could very easily. It’s much harder to tune an easy going yet talented treble region. One where you still have very good note definition, treble punch, and a relatively brisk snap as on the Omnium. One which keeps a calm and linear path through the treble yet extends very well into the upper portions of the treble. Most definitely this region plays a supporting actor role, but treble is one of those areas which can literally make or break an iem. Too much emphasis, too little, lacks bite, too much edginess, too much sharpness, too dull. I could go on and on. The point is the treble is important to get right whether it’s the focus or not. I couldn’t praise what Craft Ears has done enough because the treble is dulled down yet still doesn’t lose the clarity, spunk, and resolution of a solid treble. 

Examples 

Furthermore, the treble has some speed too. Transients are not lagging at all. The treble can and will take on faster passages fairly well. As in “Magnetic Fields, Pt. 1” by Jean Michel Jarre. This track is littered with digital treble coming at you from so many angles. Very rapidly I might add. The Omnium is able to distinctly separate and delineate every attack edge with a layered and rounded note body with an acute incisiveness. For the most part anyways. Every note sounds very well placed in the sound field too. Timbre is fantastic as it isn’t overtly boosted causing anything to sound artificial. Enough brilliance to add some sparkle to each note in a more organic fashion. Very speedy too as I really feel that the Omnium almost forces my mind’s eye to locate every note. It isn’t just some mishmash of treble tizz blended and flatly displayed. There’s an element of dimension to the sound folks. Another track is “Evil Twin” by Lindsey Stirling. The Omnium is able to resolve all the subtle details in this less intense manner which is a nice thing to hear. So easily this track can push tolerances on lesser quality sets, with lesser quality drivers, and lesser quality tuning. Also, her violin comes across with just enough shimmer and dynamics to satisfy yet without becoming abrasive. Again, the sound field has layers to it with well placed notes. One more example is a track I also use often called “Ice Bridges” by Billy Strings. His banjo play is lightning fast, and the Omnium really does resolve this track well. Not every set pulls it off very well. Craft Ears did a fine job. 

Extension

Real quick I should write about one aspect of the treble which is surprisingly well done. That is, the way it extends into the upper treble. Folks, I am literally missing nothing out past 10k. The Omnium is able to convincingly portray every last lingering harmonic, every cymbal crash, or any other sound within the high-highs very well. Again, very nice timbre too. Now, every track presents cymbal strikes differently, but by-and-large I don’t hear anything splashy. I don’t hear anything with too much of a sheen to it. I hear cymbals with a nice body to them and the secondary harmonics seem to cut loose relatively quickly keeping a clean edge. This extension also seems to psycho-acoustically stretch the soundstage to a degree. I definitely get the illusion of greater width. I thought that was nice to hear as there’s a ton of info up top which many sets either neglect to capture or sound artificial to the ear. 

Let’s face it… 

Having said all of those nice things, let’s face it… there are certainly iems tuned to take on these areas better. However, at times those sets are more one-dimensional, while the Omnium is much more of an all-rounder style. So, it’s nice to hear such a talented sounding iem. Like a Swiss army knife of iems. Again, there are certainly iems which specialize in areas like the treble region. These sets can come across more resolving, with better detail retrieval, more tart in their note bite, and with more of a haptic feel to the treble region. So, the Omnium is obviously not perfect. No doubt this is a set which has to align well with your own personal tastes, and yes, I realize I made the most obvious statement ever right there. However, the sentiment remains. You have to want a slightly more laid-back sound tonally. You have to desire a less intense and less energetic sounding treble region. However, I really don’t want to skew these words in the wrong light. The Omnium is not without energy, dynamism, sharpness, and brilliance. It’s just like I said earlier, Craft Ears simply tuned the Omnium in a more palatable and easy-going manner. 

Downsides to the Treble Region 

No doubt the biggest glaring issue would be for treble junkies. The Omnium was tuned with more of a balance dynamically and so treble heads won’t always get that gratifying vivaciousness that they crave. Of course, for fans of good easy going treble, I have the set for you. I suppose the treble region could use a hair more of that pleasing snap and punch, similar to what you get with good EST drivers, among a few other driver types. However, I cannot take anything away from how this set was tuned up top. So long as you know what you are getting. Still, its well detailed, good precision, has some zing, not too drab and not rolled-off to my ears. Also, the timbre is solid. 

Technicalities 

Soundstage

The overall “perceived” size of the imaginary stage within my mind when listening to the Omnium is certainly above average. I’d say width is great, out past my ears, nice dynamic range, just as potent at the outer edges as it is closer to the center. You have decent height too, and very nice depth of field to my ears. Enough to put a smile on my face. That said, the Omnium sounds as though it is somewhat closer and more Intimate on the front end. The midrange is positioned a hair closer to the listener. I actually love this type of stage and prefer it to a stage which sits out in front, pulled back. I like the intimacy and so maybe I have a bias here. I’m sure there’s plenty of you who don’t enjoy a more intimate portrayal of your music. At any rate, for me it’s great and therefore I give it two thumbs up. Add to that the stage has a very nice 3D style dimensionality as well. I’ve said a few times that layering is very nice and that is partially due to the depth I’m referring to. I can tell you that the sound is not congested at all. The soundstage is great folks. 

Separation / Imaging 

Instrument separation is generally very good. The Omnium has that nice clarity, clean note delivery, well defined notes, it sounds airy and open, quicker transients, slightly leaner presentation. Add those all together and what you get (most of the time) is nice separation of elements within the imaginary stage. Of course, there are some caveats which should go without saying. That is, if you are listening to a heavily bassy track then you may get some masking happening. Obviously, you aren’t going to hear all of that good separation through that raucous bass. Also, badly recorded tracks are going to show themselves with this set and they may cause separation to not be as easy to discern. Imaging walks the same line as separation. Or better, as I find the imaging capabilities on the Omnium to be really great. I can’t remember any time during my listening that I felt anything was out of place. The Omnium is always on-point. Moreover, the Omnium’s layering ability is quite awesome too. Truly a nice set. 

Detail Retrieval 

As far as detail retrieval I’d have to say that the Omnium is above average. No doubt about it. For all the reasons that the Omnium succeeds in separation and imaging, it also succeeds in detail retrieval. Just a very clean sound as the Omnium has all the trappings of a set which can bring all the subtleties to the surface quite well. I hear nice micro-dynamics (depending on the track) and the Omnium has very nice and pronounced macro-details. For the micro stuff the Omnium performs much better when a track isn’t ultra congested and there isn’t a booming bass presence. I really didn’t have a hard time hearing the minutiae within my music and at times the Omnium is flat out amazing in this regard. That all said, I should also add that obviously there are sets which are tuned more analytical with a much more clinical sound which outperform the Omnium here. However, those sets also don’t have the wonderful tonality, timbre, and fluidity of the Omnium. This is why the Omnium is such a special iem. Really an all-rounder kilo-buck in-ear monitor that can mostly do it all very well. 

Is it worth the asking price? 

Okay, this question is going to have to come with some fairly obvious caveats. Let’s just get something out of the way, the Craft Ears Omnium is meant for who it’s meant for. Maybe that doesn’t make sense. Let’s try it this way, the Craft Ears Omnium is most certainly worth every last dollar of the $2k+ that it costs to those who have zero issue purchasing something at this cost. It is what it is. I’m assuming if you’re still here then you are likely one of those folks. The truth is, the Omnium is actually a very well priced iem for what it is. Yes it’s a kilo-buck iem, but against the current crop of kilo-buck sets it actually stands very tall. No doubt the Omnium will have to suit your idea of what “good” sounds like. However, at these prices I’m quite positive that you are well aware of what your preferences are. Anyone willing to pick up a top-tier flagship like the Omnium likely knows exactly what they are looking for. That all said, the Omnium has a big fat “YES” to the question in the header. 

The Why… 

Because the Omnium comes with an absolute boatload of accessories (I realize I didn’t cover the accessories, if I had them I would’ve.), a very nice copper colored cable, fantastic case, a slew of tips. Next, the build and design are so classy, very stoic looking, handsome, and premium in every sense of the word. Craft Ears gives you the option to design your own on their website with so many options that it isn’t even worth talking about here. You’d have to see for yourself. 18k gold trim surrounds the carbon fiber and resin covered faceplates. Folks, the design is absolutely DOPE! In every sense and meaning of the word. However, it’s the next section which helps propel this set from a gorgeous paperweight into one of the best TOTL flagship iems that my ears have heard. 

That sound! 

Beyond the aesthetic, build quality, packaging/Accessories, what makes the Omnium one of the better sets within its price point is…THAT SOUND! I’m sure that’s what you all came for anyways. The Omnium has a very nice balance across the spectrum, warm/neutral, very cleanly defined, awesome mix of smooth and crisp, with a stage which sounds wide, deep, and holographic. Timbre is very nice as well. I don’t hear anything outright peaky, glaring, or too sharp. Everything is kept in great control. Nothing metallic, no sibilance and cohesion of drivers is really special. The Omnium has this deep and vibratory sub-bass that reaches guttural levels serving as the foundation of this set striking a bold contrast against the levity of the upper portions of the mix. The mids are both technically on-point as well as emotionally gratifying. Forward, great clarity, tight transients, lean yet dense. Nice musicality and great technically! The treble is easy going, never strident or too vivacious, yet the Omnium’s treble is not without nicely controlled vibrance. Also, the extension into the upper treble sounds well tuned, nothing splashy, no treble tizz. Again, the stage is well dimensioned, intimate yet full, 3D in its rendering as the stage really adds to the whole experience. Nice with details, solid separation of elements of the stage, well layered, Imaging is spot-on too. Now, there are some subjective gripes that some may have but in my opinion the Omnium is a very nice all-rounder flagship iem that’s worth every penny to own. If you can do it. Obviously for those who cannot afford such a set there are many iems within the market which can almost get you there and cost much less. For whom it’s for… yes, the Omnium is worth the asking price. 

Conclusion

To conclude my full written review and feature of the Craft Ears Omnium I again have to thank the good people of Craft Ears for supplying the Audio Geeks USA Tour with a set of the Omnium in exchange for a full review. With that, I also want to thank Audio Geeks as I wouldn’t have been able to dive into a set like this without them. I thank both outfits very much! Also, I need to thank you, the reader, for clicking the link and spending time at Mobileaudiophile.com. Every time you click a link to this website it is very important to us. Without question we are trying to build our reach and that doesn’t happen without you. Granted, we’ve really grown in a special way with many many followers, and we couldn’t do any of it without you. Thank you so very much. 

Other Perspectives 

Now that you’ve read my full review and heard all of my thoughts and my perspective of the Craft Ears Omnium, I am urging you to go and check out other thoughts of this wonderful iem. At this price I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but I’m urging you nonetheless. Every reviewer has the potential to be very different from the next. Just like you. We all have our own tastes in music, we all have different preferred sound signatures, likes and dislikes. Beyond those things, we don’t all have the same gear, which can greatly change how we perceive each product we review. Also, not all of us have been down the same road in audio. We’ve had different experiences in the hobby. There’s a thousand variables which differ from the final thoughts and opinions we have. So, it really does pay for you to do your due diligence and read, watch, or listen to all of the opinions. Well my friends, I am all out of words, I hope each and every one of you are healthy and happy. Take good care, stay as safe as possible, and always… God Bless!