Empire Ears- Bravado MKII ( Universal )

03-18-2022

Bassheads unite, for Empire Ears has delivered! In this review, I will explore the universal Bravado Mk II, a mid-size powerhouse of an IEM. Let the journey begin and let’s find out if the Bravado is all about that bass.

Build

At $799, the Bravado Mk II is the least expensive universal in the Empire Ears lineup and is also available in a custom version.

Technical Specifications:

· 4 Proprietary Drivers, Tribrid Design

· 1 Next Generation W9+ Subwoofer - Sub-Bass/Bass

· 1 Proprietary Balanced Armature Driver - Mid

· 2 Premium Electrostatic Drivers - 1 High, 1 Super-High

· 6-Way synX Crossover Network

· EIVEC - Empire Intelligent Variable Electrostatic Control Technology

· A.R.C. Resonance Mitigation Technology

· Impedance: 4 Ohms @ 1kHz

· Frequency Response: 5 Hz - 100kHz

· Sensitivity: 99dB @ 1kHz, 1mW

For more information on specifications follow this link:.

https://empireears.com/collections/universal/products/bravado-mkii

The “Hockey Puck” contains a bag that may be used to store the IEMs when not in use or when traveling.

An Empire Ears branded cable is included which is made by Effect Audio, available with either a 2.5 mm balanced connector or a standard 3.5 mm connector. I have the model with the 3.5 mm connector.

For ear tips, Final Audio has supplied five different sizes that range from SS to LL on a stainless-steel card.

The “Hockey Puck” contains a bag that may be used to store the IEMs when not in use or when traveling.

Additionally, there is an imprinted cloth with the word “Empire” that can be used to clean, polish, or whatever you wish to use it for.

There is plenty of branding from Empire, in this package.

Evaluation

During this evaluation, I used the iBasso DX 240. Primarily I used the DX240 for this review due to the neutral sound signature.

Part One

When I first listened to music with these IEMs, I could feel the low-end punch as well as the slam that the Bravado possess...I was in for a ride. It took a little bit of time to find the correct ear tips from the selection of Final Audio E-Series because oddly the ear tips ran on the larger side. Instead of using a size Medium, I used a Small. Once I found the correct size, I no longer had an uncomfortable pressure in my ears.

Back to that bass and slam...up till now, I had only experienced full-size headphones. These IEMs took a short time to open. Roughly after 24 hours of continued use, the bass extension had reached full subterranean lows, mids had settled from being recessed, and highs had fully sparkled.

For my first album, I listened to the Blues pairing of J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton on “The Road to Escondido,” which is not music that may be intended for this type of IEM. While the overall sound signature is pleasing, the music used the IEM’s warm and smooth low end, which is not how this album was recorded. This is quite a dry album with a sharp cut-off in the sub-bass, elevated mids, and recessed highs.

Next, we switch gears to Jazz, with Lady Blackbird that is suited for the Bravado’s, elevated bass, with the mids a bit pulled back, and the highs that shine, and all of a sudden, we have a winner. With the album “Black Acid Soul,” the Bravado’s shine, where every pluck of the upright bass is heard, each note of the piano strike is felt, and the emotion of hearing the voice is simply palpable. But I cannot help feeling that the lower end is still artificially elevated. Yes, there is a subwoofer, but it does bring attention to itself.

To test the subwoofer in the Bravado’s I decided to listen to Infected Mushroom with “Return to the Sauce.” With this album, you can hear every single note down to the last sub-note created. When I listened to this album it was as if there was a subwoofer in my head as each low note was from within. Would I describe this as a natural experience? No, but this does describe how low the Bravados do go.

Part Two

What? Did you think that was it? Turns out that Empire Ears Bravado Mk II’s have quite a bit more in store. The Bravado requires quite a bit of time to truly come alive, which I did not allow it to do. I had given the Bravados some 20 hours or so of constant playing time. One night I had laid the IEMs down on my desk for roughly six or so hours. In this time the Bravados had drastically changed in sound signature.

The lows no longer overtook the soundscape, the mids were no longer recessed, and the highs no longer were slightly sibilant. Let’s take a more detailed description of what new and beautiful details we can hear.

With the Dire Straits song “Telegraph Road,” from “Love Over Gold,” we can hear details including the lightning in the distance and the steel guitar, all eerily chilling now that they were no longer veiled by the bloated bass. Mark Knopfler’s baritone voice was clear along with the drum kit and was no longer featured in a fog.

The sweetness of Esperanza Spalding’s voice is just that more crystalline on the album “Emily’s D+ Evolution” as the upper frequencies now does not “settle down.” Before, the upper frequencies had been on the sibilant side. This album does display how bass and sub-bass are a bit extenuated, but not to where it is bloated.

Before with music pieces that were quite busy, details would become lost and smeared. For example, with the Iveta Apkalna - Saint-Saëns: Symphony No.3 Poulenc: Organ Concerto. There are many busy parts with winds, strings, and percussion. Each instrument section takes part, either small, large, quiet, or grand. To reproduce either of these parts, in scale, and accuracy is quite difficult. Yet somehow the Bravados lived up to their name, especially producing low-end in granger.

Conclusion

What is the Empire Ears Mk II Bravado? And who are they for? The Empire Ear Bravado Mk II is an IEM that is a sub $1,000 (at $799) that can produce a spectacular soundstage, thunderous lows, a resolving midrange, and beautiful highs.

The Bravado Mk II does require time to break in, as my first conclusion was far from correct. Giving the Empire Ears a general 20-25+ hours are a must as the multiple drives need to open. This allows them to produce their full frequency range without sounding bloated, sibilant, or muddy.

The Empire Ears Bravado MK II are for the person who is looking a fun IEM, deem slightly accented bass, natural mids, and highs that are never harsh.

I can give the Empire Ears Bravado Mk II my recommendation.

To purchase the Empire Ears Mk II using my affiliate link.
Click Here!

Gear Used

M1 Mac Mini

2021 Roon Nucleus Plus

iBasso DX240

Music Played

· JJ Cale- The Road to Escondido (U.S. Version)

o https://open.qobuz.com/album/0093624441861

· Lady Blackbird- Black Acid Soul

o https://open.qobuz.com/album/yrvnw0o8setua