ISN EBC80 Review
Intro
Hello, this review covers the latest from the audio brand ISN Audio named the ISN EBC80 ($699). I am very happy to be able to give you my thoughts covering this set as I’m part of the Audio Geeks US Tour. I have to give a huge thanks and shout-out to Penon Audio, as well as Audio Geek. No doubt I would not have the opportunity to hear this set without both parties. So, thank you! Now, the EBC80 is actually an eight-driver “quad-brid” earphone consisting of two dynamic drivers, two balanced armature drivers, two electrostatic drivers, and two bone-conduction drivers. Basically, the EBC80 is absolutely loaded. Without question it’s an ambitious offering from ISN Audio which entails a maximum level of expertise and “know-how” to cohesively tune all of those moving parts in a concerted and homogenized manner. As a fan of audio and a fan of Penon, you have to know that I am excited for the EBC80 to arrive.
ISN Audio
I think it’s fairly evident to anyone who’s paid even a slight bit of attention to the hobby that ISN Audio is one of the true fan favorites amongst the audio faithful. Iem after iem or cable after cable are strategically and meticulously crafted with ISN’s own “house style” and house tuning blend. It seems that no matter the driver configuration or price point that either Penon or its sister brand ISN Audio… just doesn’t miss. I’ve tried many of their iems and even reviewed their wonderful ISN Neo 5 (Neo 5 Review) late last year and folks I have to be honest with you, the Neo 5 is clearly one of the best warm, rich, bass focused iems that I’ve ever heard under $300. Which is saying a lot. The ISN H60 (still haven’t heard it unfortunately) is also one of the bestselling and most lauded and adored iems under $500, hands down! Look at the rest of their catalog folks! One after the other is solid product after solid product. Of course, we know that ISN Audio comes from a very successful lineage as they share a common DNA with another fan favorite. That being Penon Audio. I suppose it shouldn’t come as a huge shock that a Penon sister brand is also having tremendous success. Of course, I say a lot of this in anticipation of the EBC80 arriving, in exactly two days. So please forgive me for my joyful writing, can’t help myself friends. Should be fun.
My word!
Well, the ISN Audio EBC80 just arrived at my door. I should note that since this is a “tour” unit, that I didn’t get any of the packaging. Quite literally I only received the earphones, the cable, and that’s it. Well, they also comfortably placed the EBC80 inside a blue Penon carrying case. At any rate, I can only speak on what I have in my possession. That said, I couldn’t care less because the sound of this set trumps any lacking accessories. My word! What a spectacular sounding set for the cost. This just went from “Should be a fun one” to… “I don’t want to send these away in two weeks”. Of course, I haven’t critically listened yet and so my thoughts may change (not likely). I actually tried to type that with a straight face, lol. Folks, I look forward to sharing my thoughts. So, without further ado, the ISN Audio EBC80…
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EBC80 Pros
-Build Quality is the usual Penon resin, very nice, durable in hand
-Extremely comfortable (will they fit you as well?)
-The design is striking in appearance
-Great dynamic balance with boisterous macro-dynamics
-Wonderfully holographic sound field, great layering abilities
-Bass is very well textured, deep, palpable, visceral, clean for its emphasis
-Midrange is absolutely delectable, creamy, full bodied, vocals are truly awesome
-Non-fatiguing treble, nice bite, great clarity, nice extension, textured
-Highly detailed (w/some obvious small caveats)
-Imaging is spot-on
-Very high resolution across the board, even with a richer sound
-Soundstage is a vast, chasmic, multi-layered experience
EBC80 Cons
-The cable is somewhat puzzling. It’s very nice but the earhook situation?
-Could use a hair more lift throughout the treble (I’m really stretching)
-Fans of an analytical tuning may not want to pick this set up
-May be too bass heavy for some (again, stretching)
Gear used for testing
–IBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality
The ISN EBC80 is another very well-made all-resin set. Actually, looking at the Penon store it states that the EBC80 is actually handmade using medical grade skin friendly resin. Now, I don’t know what is made by hand, I’m assuming the faceplate design and maybe gluing the faceplates to the shell. I would assume that the shells are 3D printed. To be perfectly honest, ISN Audio doesn’t really divulge a whole lot of info about the build. However, I can assure you that the EBC80 is like any other Penon in-ear, it’s built very well. Nothing feels even remotely cheap or chinsy on this set. You know a well-made resin set when you feel it. It isn’t the easiest thing to explain, but it’s easy to understand when the EBC80 is in your ears. So, the EBC80 has about average width nozzles (around 6mm) with average insertion depth. I also see two small metal bordered vent holes, one in the front and one towards the rear of the shells. The EBC80 are very ergonomic with a very clean build. Now, I should also add that the EBC80 is also fairly large. Which makes sense with the high number of different drivers strategically placed inside. So be aware of that.
Design
The design is one area where the EBC80 just knocks it out of the park. I adore the transparent blue shells showing off the inner components (the drivers, tubes) with such clarity. Truly a nice look. To add to that, the faceplates are pieces of art. A deep blue is the underlying colorway while gold glitter streaks across the faceplates. You see a spattering of vibrant green, blue, purple, and pink colors seemingly randomly sprayed across the faceplates. However, ISN Audio truly nailed this look down with the gold-colored alloy border around the faceplates. Truly gorgeous! What an awesome design! Folks, this set is absolutely beautiful to look at. It all gets tied together when you put the all-blue colored cable on as the look is very nice. I think that ISN Audio did a great job.
Internals
Like I said earlier, the EBC80 is an eight-driver quad-brid earphone consisting of two 8mm liquid silicone dynamic drivers covering the lows. Each driver takes a portion of the bass region. Next, ISN added one Sonion balanced armature which will cover the whole of the midrange and one Knowles balanced armature to cover the lower to mid treble area. For the upper treble ISN decided upon two Sonion electrostatic drivers. I found that very nice. Lastly, they equipped two frequency-wide bone conduction drivers providing that visceral kinetic feel to the spectrum. I’m sure they added in some sort of a crossover tech within the housing as well, but I have no way of knowing, unfortunately. For whatever reason ISN only listed out the drivers inside of the EBC80. However, I cannot begin to tell you how intrigued I was to learn that ISN went the route that they did for each of the drivers. I feel that they went with the perfect strength of each chosen driver and truly did a wonderful job of meshing those drivers together. But I’ll speak about that in a bit. For now, just know that ISN paired many excellent drivers together within a very nice housing.
Fit/Comfort
As far as the actual fitment is concerned, I feel like a broken record because the EBC80 quite literally fits perfectly. I’ve said this in many reviews now and I’m starting to think that my ears just form to the shape of each iem. It’s a strange superpower to have, but I have it… Lol. Back to reality, seriously folks, the ISN EBC80 fits so well. No doubt these brands are getting better and better at crafting very ergonomic iems and the EBC80 is no exception. As always, I have to say that I have no idea how the EBC80 will fit you as… you are not me. Still, comfort is top notch, no rough edges, rounded and smooth corners. It’s simply a comfy set of earphones. Now, remember the EBC80 is a large set. This is not a small iem folks. Obviously, it has to be larger to fit all eight drivers. So, if you have small ears then you may want to consider that. Still, very comfortable for me.
Cable
The cable provided within the packaging is one of good quality. It is none other than the ISN Audio C2 cable which can also be purchased separately at Penon’s website. You also have the option at purchasing to get either the ISN H2 or ISN S2 cables. So, keep that in mind. I obviously received the C2. It’s a modular cable and one which is very easy to swap out jacks. Of course, the cable is the only accessories that was sent to me and so it’s the only accessories that I can speak on. However, as nice as it is, the cable doesn’t have any ear hooks folks. Really it is a very nice wire, it’s a deep blue, perfect match with the EBC80 aesthetically. To be exact the C2 is a 6N + OCC with two sets of wires braided and each carrying 72 cores while reaching 1.2 m in length. Again, the cable is a 3-1 modular cable which comes with a 3.5 single ended, 2.5 balanced, and 4.4 balanced jacks. I used the only jack which came with this tour unit, that being the 4.4 balanced. Really, I have no hard complaints except for the ear hooks. It is quite perplexing folks. For a set which costs this much. One other note, I would think that ISN would provide a cable that sits flush at the 2-pin conjunction. Not a big deal but it would be nice. Overall, it is a solid wire, it’s gorgeous, sonically nice, and it fits aesthetically. Not bad.
Drivability / Pairings
Driving Power
The ISN Audio EBC80 is rated with a low impedance of around 13 ohms as well as a sensitivity of 106 dbs. Friends, the EBC80 is a sensitive set that can surely be enjoyed on even lesser powerful sources. I used so many weaker sources in this review. Friends, I had the EBC80 connected to the Fiio UTWS5 for at least a full day and the sound was just great. I listened out of curiosity with my iPad, my old LG V60, another old Android Phone, some no name 3.5 se Amazon dongle dacs too. Every one of those are very weak source devices and 3ach one was met with a dynamic and impressive sound quality out of the EBC80. Having said that, do not be mistaken because as good as the EBC80 sounds “with” weak sources (less than a 50mW @ 32 ohms) when you add some power it certainly shines. Every review, I test with every source that I have on hand, and I’d say that the EBC80 doesn’t necessarily need a megaton of power, but once I set the EPZ TP50 on high gain I could hear the difference. Those ESTs come alive; the bone-conduction drivers seem to wake up too. The bass gets tighter, denser as well. Now, I’m sure a lot also has to do with the caliber of source I’m using which is helping the sound quality. Most of my more powerful sources are also my better sources. Still, I think it’s blatantly obvious that more power gives the EBC80 the engaging quality which makes it so special. Again, you don’t “need” a powerful source, but a slightly more powerful source will reward your listening session.
Source Pairing
The ISN Audio EBC80 comes across as warm with touches of neutrality, along with some “icing on the cake” style brilliance on the top end. However, it definitely leans warm, rich, and gratifyingly creamy. To my ears the EBC80 pairs best with any source ranging from warm to neutral/bright. Yes, I realize that “warm to neutral/bright” is a wide spanning tonal preference and pairing ability. However, the EBC80 seems to really do well with most any source. Now, you do have a slight bit of edginess toward the upper-mids and so any device which emphasizes that region could possibly get a hair too sharp for anyone sensitive to that region. Having said all of that, I truly loved the way the EBC80 took to all sorts of tonal coloration from my sources. Whether it was the neutral/bright Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro, EPZ TP35, iBasso DX240, or the slightly warmer Shanling M6 Ultra, I was so very happy with how well the EBC80 acclimated to those tonal differences. I personally enjoyed the Fiio Q15 and the M6 Ultra the most of any of my sources, but I could listen all day long with a smile on my face to most any source in my possession.
What do you need?
In my opinion anyone who’s picking up the $699 ISN Audio EBC80, will likely already have a substantial source in their possession as well. I don’t think many beginners are buying a $700 iem with only a smartphone to listen with. I suppose I could be wrong, but most people will have an adequately powered source on hand for a set at this price. However, if you have no sources, and you only have a small amount of funds left over to pick up a source then I wouldn’t be too overly worried. In my opinion the tonality of the EBC80 plays nice with many different sources. It is a chameleon in that way. I’d say try to pick up a decently powered dongle dac with a warm to neutral tonal coloration and you should be good to go.
Sound Impressions
*Note: I want to preface this entire section with a few details. First off, being that the EBC80 is a tour unit I did not burn them in. I would assume that it’d be helpful to run them in for a couple days, but I can’t say for sure. Also, I use flac or better files which are stored on my devices and rarely stream any music. The Android music players of my choice are always UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) and Hiby Music Player. Certainly UAPP is my go to. The eartips that I chose were the Divinus Velvet wide-bore tips. I used those for the entirety of my critical listening. Being that I didn’t get the whole package for review I was forced to tip roll.
What’s it sound like?
To start, folks, the EBC80 is a very engaging and wholly immersive sounding iem. There’s no other way to say it. Well, I suppose I could come up with a few more ways, but you get the sentiment. The EBC80 has a fullness of sound which comes across as dynamic a presentation as you can get whilst still maintaining impeccable control for the price point. And a few price points above it. Macro-dynamics absolutely sing folks! The dynamic contrast juxtaposed with the prolific cohesion of sound is truly awesome for $699. I feel that the holographic and totally palpable feel of the sound field is like a 4D expression of my music. Okay, maybe “4D” is me going overboard a bit, but what you get is a deeply layered sound with just as much robust note quality, note contour, and clean-lined articulation at the edges of the spectrum as you’ll find in the center. You feel the sound to a certain extent as well. Especially in those highly dynamic portions of your music, adding another slight dimension, which I must assume is helped tremendously by the two full-range Sonion bone-conduction drivers. However, bone-conduction or no bone-conduction, the sound is completely enthralling & all encompassing. The BC drivers simply add to the overall presentation. Simply a very fun tuning and a very technically proficient tuning as well. Fun and technically proficient aren’t two words usually used in conjunction when describing an earphones sonics. The EBC80 maximizes both descriptors.
Sound cont…
Timbre is near natural with close to organic accentuations and fundamental tones. The EBC80 doesn’t miss that organic moniker by much even though there is some obvious coloration happening. Albeit wonderful coloration. Now, the EBC80 has a warm/neutral tonal color with what I’d probably call a U-shaped or possibly a warm/rich W-shaped signature. No doubt the EBC80 has a certain articulated warmth to its sound. Just enough actually. However, this is not the type of warmth which casts a veil or creates a murky climate for my tunes. This is a very clean warmth with a very euphonic energy which never seems to congest the sound field, never clouds the mental image, and it’s a warmth which offers a high level of transparency. Having said that, there’s plenty of brilliance and vibrance to the sound to offset that warmth and provide the crispness needed to create defined edges, and finer lines, crispness. Though the bass is certainly boosted and very authoritative, I’d still say that the EBC80 doesn’t have a pure bass focus. In fact, I’d say the focus of the EBC80, if any, is in its purely musical and milky midrange. There’s a dynamic and very vigorous spirit to the sound of the EBC80. Like a perfectly contained and controlled boldness which replays the spectrum with rounded and sculpted notes giving the entire frequency range fantastic projection. Every note (especially the midrange) sounds convex and pregnant with what seems to be a tangible density.
Condensed Sound Between the 20’s
This section I try to condense my thoughts in a very succinct and ultra generalized way. The abridged version you could say. Anyways, the EBC80 has a more lifted bass region, a forward and full midrange and an appropriate level of treble emphasis to add some uplifting sparkle to the sound as well. This is what I mean when I say, “dynamic balance”. There’s a very cohesive nature to this tuning. The speed, cadence, timing, fluidity, and vibrance within each 3rd of the mix (bass, mids, treble) sounds homogenized and tunefully whole. The low-end reaches deep, slams hard, it’s textured and well separated. While the midrange is crystal clear but creamy, warm vibrance, liquid in its body, it’s just as ductile as it is transparent. The treble has a very reserved sparkle and never goes over the top to my ears. It’s a treble that plays its part with that controlled treble bite, that EST crunch, and never forces its resolution. To add to that, it has really nice extension. Moreover, the EBC80 is highly detailed, has great instrument separation, it’s holographic, great micro-dynamics and expressive macro-dynamics too. Friends, the EBC80 is simply so well balanced in every aspect. Truly a fine set with a wonderful tuning.
*Note: I am very sorry as I do not have a frequency graph to share of the ISN EBC80. As soon as I can find one I will update this review. I sincerely apologize.
Bass Region
The low-end of the spectrum on the ISN EBC80 is one which offers a hefty amount of slam and deep enough extension to sound fun and gratifying, but also taut and agile enough to not sound like a muddy mess. Friends, I truly enjoy a quality bass playback. That can be basshead style or snappy tight. The bass region is the first place I check in every review process, without fail. I can tell you that EBC80’s bass region is one of the most pleasing and delicious bass regions that I’ve heard within the price point. I find the low-end offers quality through and through but also a large dosage of quantity. In my opinion the EBC80 has a very polished bass region. ISN employed two 8mm liquid silicone drivers to handle the lows and they do so remarkably well coupled with the two BC drivers. The bass is so very close to that guilty-pleasure, bass-bois style emphasis, yet without hearing the usual hang ups that come with a fun boosted bass. It’s quality meets quantity and it’s very nice.
Bass cont…
The bass is hard edged, never soft or pillowy, with wonderful note density, very deep in pitch. The EBC80’s low end generally has a natural transient decay which never feels slow or laggy. To add to that, another lovely feature of this bass region is that you can feel both the sub & mid-bass notes (for the most part) to a small degree on top of the usual feels you get from a boosted sub-bass response. I assume that can be attributed to the bone conduction drivers. This is a low end which provides truly engrossing bass drops, and I have a multitude of tracks to name which provide this. So, satisfying. Bass guitars are generally full bodied, edgy, very strident in their growling drone with the EBC80. You can hear how dense and meaty they can sound on “Undoer” by Geese. Or kick drums which have that tactile initial hit followed by a cavernous & resonance filled hollow boom like in the track “Take on Me” by Weezer. Again, decay is rather natural to my ears while its attack is quite fast, pointed, and you can hear this rather well in this track. To my ears the bass region is unquestionably great and very enchanting to this reviewer.
Sub-Bass
As I already pointed out, the sublevels of the low-end can reach very deep with a highly controlled rumble. The haptic feel to the sub-bass is only enhanced by the bone conduction drivers which certainly provide just a hair of extra tactility to this region. One of the things which really draws me to the EBC80’s bass region is the fact that the sublevels are lifted and guttural and any other word describing something deep in pitch. However, the sub-bass also doesn’t promote any blurring of the sound field. Most notably it doesn’t make a muddy mess of the mid-bass. There is a distinctness to the sub-bass which hits very hard yet only seems to show up when called upon. I don’t hear a frequency wide influence from this region. Something is very special with those 8mm liquid silicon drivers and how well they handle any track I throw at them. Yes, it’s a big and bulbous bass. No, it is not sloppy in the least. That is something we don’t always hear and I’m happy to report it now. Listening to “Anthem 3” by Blink-182 I can hear that ultra-fast note decay hit with authority in a speedy manner yet never obscure the sound field. Another is “California” by Cmat. This track has all the feels, sounds clean edged, yet it’s also swollen with robust prominence and full-bodied with a thrumming low drone. Nothing fuzzy, nothing grainy, nothing hazy, or oversaturated. The sub-bass simply fits, perfectly.
Mid-Bass
Now, the mid-bass is one which doesn’t exactly have the same emphasis as the sublevels, but that definitely doesn’t mean that it won’t provide plenty of weight and bullishness for fans of a bigger bass replay. Please believe me… there’s absolutely nothing weak here. Also, the mid-bass is very well textured with a corporeal viscosity adding tactile sensory effects to my listening sessions. Moreover, the mid-bass does a wonderful job of keeping a tight and taut delivery with fantastic agility, even in more complicated tracks. It’s big but it stays within the framework of a dynamically balanced sound, which is simply awesome. The mid-bass comes across as punchy, very vigorous, with a potent attack that’s outlined with some great note definition. Within reason of course, you have to know that I’m speaking these words in respect to the EBC80’s mid-bass quantity. It’s a very authoritative and robust mid-bass that never seems to lose its clean edge. It has very instant stop and go dynamism like fast twitch muscle reflex… but on steroids. Red Hot Chili Peppers in the track “Higher Ground” or Muse in “Hysteria”. Both tracks show off the speed of this hard-hitting mid-bass display and in the same sentence they show off the density provided in those notes. It’s simply a great bass region folks. No doubt about it. In addition to all of that, the mid-bass has just the right amount of measured bleed into the midrange. It adds just enough warmth and weight in my opinion.
Downsides to the Bass Region
To my ears there really isn’t much I’d change about the low-end. However, I could certainly see fans of fast, snappy and less intensive bass replays finding the EBC80 a bit too enthusiastic, too robust and too bass focused. The EBC80 has a more natural decay, and you could say a semi atmospheric sound, and while I consider this a fast and pretty darn agile bass for its size, without question there are sets with even tidier and zippier low-ends. Especially a good planar or solid balanced armature low-end. Honestly though, I am really reaching for a downside. Obviously, nothing is for everyone and so no doubt you’ll have preferential issues which may arise. So, with that, just know that the low-end is most definitely boosted with a healthy mix of sub & mid-bass that does steal focus in tracks that offer that focus. Also, there is some bleed into the midrange. So, if you are one who only loves a neutral, crystal-clear midrange untouched by the low-end with a lightning-fast bass, then you’ll likely not totally dig the EBC80. Though, in my opinion, I wouldn’t change anything, the bass region is flat-out great.
Midrange
ISN Audio EBC80’s midrange is (in my opinion) the star of the show. What a wonderfully honeyed and symphonious sound! It’s dulcet, purely musical, and organically harmonious, yet in the same breath it’s refined and precise. I love the prominence of this region which really helps to make vocals stand out nicely. Nothing is recessed or distant. Vocals project towards the listener with a swelled quality and an almost embossed body to its notes with very nice spatiality.
Technically Musical
To my ears, the midrange comes across pretty close to organic, very natural sounding. Slightly warmed yet crystal clear. Once again Penon/ISN delivers a supremely engaging midrange performance with the EBC80. It’s simply immersive in every way. Not only is the EBC80’s midrange completely fluid, wonderfully cohesive, and very musical, but it’s also highly detailed with fantastic layering of the sound field and very clean and pin-point imaging capabilities. Usually, a midrange will be one or the other. They either lean musical, or they lean analytical, most of the time anyways. Well, the EBC80 isn’t like most sets. The midrange is excellently tuned to provide a supremely emotional and rhythmic atmosphere as well as a technically proficient and fairly precise playback. I hear solid micro-dynamics leading to micro-details with contoured and clean note outlines which are well articulated. Furthermore, transients are generally tight with a natural decay and every last detail emerges very nicely (with some caveats). You have nice spacing of both vocals and instrumentation. A very euphonic, airy and effervescent presentation sets the stage for well-bodied & semi-rich notes to sound both prominent and bold. It’s really impressive friends. However, to top it off, I rarely hear anything sharp, nothing sibilant, and nothing grainy or metallic… whatsoever. Perhaps there can be some pinna glare in the right tracks, but these moments come very few and far in between to my ears.
Mids cont…
To add to all of that, the sound within the midrange has great dimensionality with an almost salient 3D sound field which places instruments and voices with well separated partitioned-off placement and an almost corporeal texture. Again, perhaps it’s “in part” because of the bone conduction drivers helping an already holographic psycho-acoustic rendering of the imaginary stage. Of course, I say that because there’s no doubt that the EBC80 simply has something extra. I don’t know how else to say it. I mean, instruments come across fairly naturally in tone and cadence, with well-regulated coloration offering cleanly contoured midrange notes with good body and density. Also, vocalists sound as though they’re in the same room as me. Vocalists are perfectly centered with rounded notes which have mass & density to them. They’re very melodic as well. It’s simply a pleasant midrange. There’s nothing flat, nothing dry, & nothing drab. There’re no odd timbre moments, no peaks, the pinna rise isn’t out of control either. Also, the EBC80’s macro-dynamic expression fulfills every meaning of the word “vigorous” with a very well contrasted sound which feels exciting and fairly energetic, yet never does that energy lose its composure.
Lower-Midrange
The lower midrange certainly has some lushness to it. I’d say there is a slight bleed into this region from the bass which adds a touch of warmth. However, in no way do I consider this a detriment as the low-mids carry a fairly high level of resolution. They certainly don’t sound hazy or veiled. Not in the slightest. Male vocalists come through with enough authority to carry a male voice as well as enough clarity to help those voices stand out. I hear some forwardness to this region but in a very smooth way. Tracks like “Bless the Broken Road” by Home Free (acapella group) truly shows off this forward but also very revealing track as every male voice and every last vocal intonation is easily heard and very discernable. It’s detail rich, but also rich in general. There’s simply such a nice prominence to male vocals with the EBC80 in my ears as they never sound recessed, repressed, or pushed back into the sound field like so many sets of late. Chris Stapleton in the track “Higher” truly shines with the EBC80 as it projects his raspy wonderful vocals so well with a buttery tone and it doesn’t exaggerate his more edgy moments at all. He simply sounds awesome. In fact, most males sound awesome with the EBC80.
Upper-Midrange
The upper midrange to lower treble is predominantly the area where most female vocalists reside (for the most part) and from my perspective female voices on the EBC80 are very likely the crown jewels of the midrange. The upper-mids come across very smooth with just the right amount of note defining crispness and body bolstering moistness. Every female inflection sounds very prominent, forward, and comes with just the right amount of shimmer along with a certain smooth intimacy to their voices. As though every female is put on a pedestal. Again, they come across moist, never dry, but also there’s a certain buoyancy to this region which can go from feathery sweet to resounding with just the right amount of sparkle at the crest of their notes. Instruments follow the same trajectory yet sit ever-so-slightly behind female vocalists. They’re still prominent, still very nice note body, very silvery and sweet toned with a clean note edge which doesn’t seem to ever sound abrasive or coarse. I realize this sounds like an advertisement for the EBC80, but as honest as I can say it… the upper midrange is delectable. Take Gabrielle Aplin in “Half In Half Out” where there’s this lovely controlled vibrance to her voice. Or Ella Henderson in “Everything I Didn’t Say” which sounds subtly soft, sweet, very natural, and very melodic with a moist richness evoking an emotional pull with the EBC80 in my ears. Just two examples of hundreds that I’ve listened to proving to my ears that the EBC80 excels at representing vocals.
Instrumentation
Like I said, instruments walk the same line, and they too have that euphonic sounding depth, mellifluousness, and organic quality. They too have that semi-rich, textured, and palpable musicality. That said, I can hear every last detail and every lingering subtle harmonic without the sound leaning analytical or clinical. For most any instrument. Obviously, there are tracks which will defy those words, but to a great degree these words hold true in my opinion. Now, stuff like percussion has a very nice crunch and snap on attack without coming across splashy, harsh, too edgy, or out of tune. I can say that for most any cymbal crash. Drums sound full-bodied, thundering, and robust. Snares have the best hard snap I’ve heard in quite some time. You can honestly feel the snap and pointed “pang”. Strings catch every last vibration, every pull, pluck, and finger slide without sounding too dry or papery. Again, there’s a certain acute & pristine moistness and roundness which helps to add depth and an almost tactile texture. Any acoustic strumming guitar, violin passage, cello, mandolin and so many others sound great to my ears. I enjoy any brass instruments too. The timbre is really great, woodwinds are as well. I’m not going to go over every instrument on planet earth, but I will say that the EBC80 does a great job with most of them. Maybe some thrashing & raucous electric guitars will sound a hair too sharp in the right tracks, but those are most definitely infrequent occasions.
Downsides to the Midrange
If I were to point out some downsides, I would probably say that for any true analytical-head or anyone who adores that dry and meticulously pristine midrange will possibly not completely love the EBC80’s mids. I’d also say that there are some moments in my listening sessions where I detected the onset of some sharpness. If you are a person who is ridiculously sensitive to any elated energy from the pinna rise, then you may have an issue there. I’d say that detail retrieval is great on this set, but the mids can become masked by a heavy bass track. Beyond those “downsides” I’d say there really aren’t many more to add. At least none that I can think of right now. Coincidentally, every word of my two full pages of jotted-down notes while listening to the EBC80 are mostly glowing sentiments.
Treble Region
The bulk of the clear and vibrant highs on the EBC80 are ushered in by a very well-tuned Knowles BA, while the airiness, the crispness, the crunch, and the extension are provided by two Sonion EST drivers. Couple in the BC drivers adding that last little bit of haptic recognition and you are left with an impressive treble display. I love the mix of these particular drivers. They provide a treble region which has such a smooth delivery whilst also having very tight, contoured, and fine lined crispness, albeit somewhat subdued. I wouldn’t say the treble is BEAMING with radiance. Actually, it’s a very well-balanced treble region to my ears. I find that ISN Audio measured and weighed the emphasis very well to perfectly contrast the low-end warmth. The EBC80’s highs have just the right amount of sparkle and illuminated brilliance for my taste (at the moment). So no, the treble region isn’t the most exuberant and may leave treble heads in wanting. That said, I never feel the treble is dull or boring. You have plenty of dynamism, especially for that percussion pop or the edgy bite with a violin. You have the slightly subdued crunch, and just enough crispness. Folks, the EBC80 has a quality treble which doesn’t need to oversaturate the mix to express that good quality, details, and it never feels like “forced resolution”, in my opinion. Again, not for treble heads, but definitely for fans of a well-tuned and clean treble with all the “icing on the cake” style sparkle, yet without the glare and sharpness.
Technically Speaking
Again, the treble is seemingly never overcooked or oversaturated, nothing is forced. I love that ISN had the presence in mind to craft a very expressive treble region, but also a non-offensive treble region. I didn’t hear anything tizzy, no mishmash of smeared treble, nothing splashy either. Some worse recordings may offer a bit of those descriptors, but by-and-large the EBC80 always maintains a clean environment free of any of the hangups that come with a cheap sounding treble region. This is quality through and through. This is also the type of treble that doesn’t need to be over emphasized to draw out the technical stuff. Detail retrieval is very nice, spacing and instrument separation is great (generally speaking), transients are tight and very exact, and the treble is one of high resolution. “Evil Twin” by Lindsey Stirling is a track which showcases these tight transients without going overboard in brightness. Literally every last bit of minutiae is easily heard, and the timbre is great without any real fatigue for me. So once again, I really don’t find this to be a bright sounding region as it’s just brilliant enough. In fact, I’m sure that some would even call it safe. No matter what I or anyone else calls it, the EBC80’S treble region is highly capable, wonderfully controlled, highly detailed, and it comes with more than adequate note weight. Additionally, the treble brings enough uplifted energy and sprightly levity to the mix to bring upon a sense of airiness and openness and a very nice technical display to the overall sound.
Extension
Another aspect of the treble region which seems to be a bright spot is the EBC80’s treble extension into the upper treble region. I find it fairly simple to distinctly hear info out past 10k. Certain harmonics like the secondary harmonics or overtones of a cymbal strike generally come through without the tizz and splash that you’ll usually hear. There are some tracks which go against what I’m saying, such as a few tracks in my playlist where you simply cannot get around that. However, “most” of the time the EBC80 offers a fairly natural upper treble with solid stage stretching extension. There are tracks like “Magnetic Fields, Pt. 1” by Jean Michel Jarre which provide electronic treble which I believe plays around those top end octaves and the EBC80 takes them with a smile reproducing exactly what’s being asked of it with speed, agility, cleanliness, and solid timbre.
Downsides to the Treble Region
If I were to try to find some issues, I could first say that the treble is not going to be ultra bright for those bright lovers or treble heads who love to hear their music pushed to the brink of comfort. As I said, there’s a balance that the EBC80 achieves which never seems to push the intensity up top. Also, the EBC80 does generally have a smoother treble and while it is highly detailed, it won’t compete in this regard to a flat-out analytically tuned iem. Don’t get me wrong, the EBC80 is a technical wizard of a set, but in truth, musicality is its first claim to fame. The technical stuff is simply a wonderful by-product of great tuning and great drivers. In my opinion anyways. So, treble heads may not totally love the output here. Beyond that, the treble region is pretty awesome folks. There’s nothing artificial, nothing sharp, nothing piercing, no odd peaks and the treble timbre is a strength of this set. Add to that there’s better than adequate treble bite, punch, and crispness defining the outer edges of an otherwise silky-smooth treble replay.
Technicalities
Soundstage
The overall stage size is certainly one of the best attributes of the ISN Audio EBC80. Something I noticed instantly was not just the size but also the holographic sound field. The dimensionality of the EBC80’s stage is simply awesome friends. To be honest, I just downplayed the stage. Sorry friends, let me reiterate what I was trying to say. Ehemm. The soundstage is freaking huge! The width is simply out of my head, the height covers all of my mind space, and the depth is fantastic! However, just because you have a holographic and 3D stage doesn’t mean it’s a good one. Imaging and layering have to phase into the equation, or else it’s just a sloppy holographic soundstage. Thankfully the EBC80 is nowhere near sloppy. I hear obvious layering of sounds from front to back and notes have a certain concavity and roundness within that sound field. No doubt about it… the soundstage is a selling point folks.
Separation / Imaging
When it comes to instrument separation, I’d say the EBC80 is average to above average. As always, average is good. We know there is so much more that goes into a great sounding iem and we know there’s reasons why a set may succeed at separating elements of an imaginary psycho-acoustically rendered stage. As far as the EBC80 is concerned, the note weight is on the rich side, its very clean, great resolution, the sound is mostly open and airy, transients go from natural to swift, and notes have a very clean outline. I don’t think the EBC80 separates instruments and voices quite as well as a clinically or analytically tuned iem will separate those same instruments, but man does it do a solid job. I’m only impressed by this set. Now, imaging of the sound field is an even better story because the EBC80’s ability to place objects within the stage is perfectly on-point. Of course, not every recording is created equal and there are some which will confuse the EBC80 a little. However, without question the EBC80 is a fantastic set for imaging purposes. It layers those sounds just as good as well. The depth and holographic euphonic stage creates a stereoscopic 3D sculpture of each element of the stage and there are great front to back layers of sound. Imaging is just… good.
Detail Retrieval
I shouldn’t say I was surprised at how well the EBC80 illuminates the subtleties within my music, but I was at least marginally taken aback. Usually, a warmer and richer sound wouldn’t be my 1st pick to be a detail beast. Aside from oddly complicated and congested tracks and tracks with a monumental amount of bass… the EBC80 is a highly detailed quad-brid iem. It really does bring details to the surface very well. Now, I wouldn’t call it “best in class” or anything like that, but I would call it “far above average” and at least somewhat surprisingly I’d definitely refer to the EBC80 as a… “detail beast”.
Is it worth the asking price?
This is always a tough question to answer for any set. Let alone a set costing upwards of $700 US. To some folks there’s no set on earth worth $700. I don’t necessarily agree, as there’s a whole lot more that goes into the creation of an iem than the cost of the materials to make them. At any rate, it’s a hard question to answer most of the time. I have this same header question in every review folks. And in every review, I sit and think about it. Now, the fact that I’m reviewing this set at all will tell you I enjoy them. If I don’t like a product, I will not spend my time on it. Too many hours go into these reviews. However, just because I like something doesn’t mean it’s worth the cost of ownership. I’ve heard a lot of awesome sets that were overpriced. Having said all of that, this is one set that I feel is almost priced too low in respect to the competition that I’ve heard. I had similar sentiments for the Elysian Acoustics X-Effect Audio Pilgrim Noir. Which is saying a lot. Say what you will about the market and iem pricing. But against the competition there’s no way I could report to you that the ISN Audio EBC80 isn’t worth the cost. Absolutely, it’s worth every last dime.
The Why
Well, I cannot speak on the packaging, but from what I can see in pictures it looks decent-to-good for the cost. The cable is a bit perplexing, but it’s still a very nice modular cable that looks slick with the EBC80 attached. Also, look at this set folks. The EBC80 is absolutely gorgeous in my opinion. The color combos, the gold trim, the transparent blue shells. What’s not to love? You also get the same robust resin build quality that you get with all Penon/ISN iems. The EBC80 is an eight-driver quad-brid iem consisting of some of the more respected names in driver technology in Knowles and Sonion. So, you know you’re getting quality drivers. Two full range bone-conduction drivers at that! Friends, the EBC80 exudes quality through-and-through.
That sound
Still, it’s the sound which makes this set an easy target for any prospective buyers. I didn’t speak nearly enough on how cohesive this 8-driver quad-brid set is folks. Truly a wonderfully tuned iem! It’s fun, so very engaging, it’s highly technical, yet fully musical. The EBC80 draws out every morsel of emotion from any track with relative ease. I’m telling you; the bass is simply fantastic. It hits very hard, dense, and deep, with a tight slam that never comes across muddy. You can feel every dynamic swing, every hit, every boom so very well. Such a satisfying display of the bass region. The midrange is one of the more awesome midranges that I’ve heard with a silky smooth, fluid, and rhythmic sound that also illuminates every last detail with enough crispness to create easily discernible fine lines with awesome resolution. Note weight is semi-rich, natural, and always comes across well textured. Also, the timbre of this region is a version of “fun-organic”, or “organic with slight dynamic embellishments”. It’s great. Vocals simply sing on this set folks. Also, the treble is non-fatiguing, nothing shrill, piercing, metallic, or sibilant. You have all the crunch, all the bite, yet you have such a smooth character within the treble region too. Extension is solid, detail retrieval is too, and really the treble is of a very high quality. Technically the EBC80 stands out with a big, wide, deep and holographic stage. Imaging is top notch with fantastic layering of sounds. Again, detail retrieval is great along with tight transients. Honestly folks, this is one of the best sets I’ve ever heard under $1k. Flat-out and hands-down. Truly a special iem. Yes, it’s worth the cost.
Conclusion
To conclude this feature of the ISN Audio EBC80 I have to give a huge thanks to Penon Audio for supplying this set. Friends, I’ve had this set in my ears non-stop over the course of my time with them, cutting short my time with other reviews and obligations. You may not know it, but for me, that’s saying a lot and speaks volumes. The EBC80 is an easy recommendation from my perspective and a fantastic set which can and will be considered “End Game” worthy to many hobbyists. Of course, I also want to thank Audio Geek for arranging the tour and giving me the opportunity to review and spend time with the EBC80. Lastly, I have to thank you. It means everything to us at Mobileaudiophile.com that you take the time out of your day to click that link and check out this or any other review. It may not seem like much, but it is mobileaudiophile.com’s currency. Clicks, views, and time spent. Thank you.
Other Perspectives
So, you’ve read this entire review, and you’ve heard my take on the EBC80. Obviously, I feel that this set is one of the best money can buy within its price point. However, that’s just an opinion. An opinion tailored to my personal taste. This hobby is so very diverse, and every person is different. That goes for both consumers as well as reviewers. So, please do yourself a favor and click a few more links to some other ISN Audio EBC80 reviews. There are so many solid reviewers who care just as I do that you get your purchase right. It can only be a help to you in your pursuit of that perfect set tailored to you. Well, folks I think that’s about it. I’ve exhausted every thought I have covering this set. It’s a good one. Please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!
