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Effect Audio Axiom’s Review - Tweaker’s Delight


Effect Audio is no stranger to the audiophile community, they are a very well known cable making company. Yes, you heard me right, cable makers. So, is this their first IEM? No, they released several TOTL IEMs previously but most are collaborations, Axiom is the only one where it’s fully developed by EA. What’s interesting about Axiom is that it features a modular unit where you can swap out(depending on availability from EA),each modular unit sounds different.




Packaging

It’s no surprise that the packaging came in a very simple package as Axiom is being marketed with sustainable features. The packaging is bare minimum and very minimalist in my opinion. Unboxing the package, you will then find the cardboard box housing the Axiom as well as additional modular unit with mmcx socket, not to mention a very nice and fragrant smelling tea bag underneath it.


Axiom does not ship with a cable despite bearing a price tag of 1499$. Why? The reasoning behind this is again down to sustainability where EA believes that for people who are looking to purchase Axiom, they already have a few cables lying around, be it from EA or other manufacturers.




Specifications

Driver system: 2-way BA-DD hybrid

Drivers: 12mm magnesium dynamic driver with LCP suspension (bass, mids),

twinned FK-series Knowles Balanced armatures (high frequencies)

Linear Frequency response (-6dB): 20 to 16,800 Hz

Crossover frequency: 4,800 Hz

Crossover architecture: Proprietary RC architecture

Impedance: 32Ω @ 1 kHz

Sensitivity: 112 dB/mW @ 1 KHz

Weight (without cable): 10.2 g

MU System Modules:MMCX and CIEM (2-Pin)


Build and Comfort

Axiom is very well built and despite the shell size looking a little big, it doesn’t feel heavy wearing it and I can use it for hours without any discomfort. The faceplate of Axiom features a jade like material, I’m not exactly sure what it is called but it certainly looks very polished and classy.


I have no problem with the fitting, however it might pose a problem for some due to its short nozzle. The stock EPro ear tips works well for me in terms of fit, however it does get a little wobbly after some time and I had to re-adjust it, so I settled with Azla’s Sednaearfit Light in order to get the best fit and seal.





Source

Foobar 2k -> IFi idsd Nano Black Label -> EA Axiom with EA’s Thor 2 Plus 4.4 Terminated(With adapter to SE)

Ibasso DX160 -> EA Axiom with EA’s Thor 2 Plus 4.4 Bal

iPhone 12 Mini -> Apple’s Lightning Dongle -> EA Axiom with EA’s Thor 2 Plus 4.4 Terminated(With adapter to SE)


Sound (Silver Module with Thor II Plus cable)

Upon first listen with Axiom, I am overwhelmed by the sheer musicality that it immersed me with. The bass is big yet it doesn’t sound muddy and bloated. I have tried the black module as well and i preferred the silver one over the black module as i find the upper mids has got more body and also slightly smoother top end compared to the black module, bass is slightly toned down which is my kind of preference as i find the black module’s bass a bit too much to my taste.


The timbre sounds accurate to my ears and I don't hear any BA timbre despite sporting two BAs. Tonality wise, i would say it is leaning towards slightly warm side


Bass

  • Bass is generous in terms of quantity but quality is no slouch either

  • Bass is punchy and the slams are good, very good control and tight

  • Very good extension and transition as well

  • Listening to The Weeknd’s Gasoline, Axiom reproduced the thump of the opening beat in a very smooth way, the bass doesn’t over power any other frequency nor the vocal

  • Sub bass rumbles when it is called for, it’s not basshead level of rumble, i would say just nice in terms of quantity for music enjoyment. This is evident in a Jpop track, SiM’s The Rumbling(Attack on TItan’s Opening), the sub bass rumble throughout the track and doesn’t even over power other frequency like the mids and treble, very very good control

  • The bass has got a very good texture and weight overall, it is fast enough on busy tracks to not let the whole song sound muddy


Mids

  • The mids to my ears are very lush and detailed, listening to Sinne Eng’s We’ve Just Begun is just amazing. The trumpets, piano, saxophones which fell into the mids has got a very good texture and note weight to each of them

  • Female vocal has got a very good texture and it sounded very pleasant overall

  • Male vocal has got equally good texture as the female’s as well

  • There isn’t any bass bleeding into the mids as far as i can tell even on busy tracks like Slipknot’s Duality

  • I do find the vocal is slightly recessed


Treble

  • The treble on the Axiom is smooth and the air and sparkles are just nice (To my taste)

  • It is smooth and non fatiguing, definitely nowhere near sibilant level

  • Detail retrieval is excellent, Zhao Cong’s Moon LIght on Spring River, a chinese orchestra track to be specific, the nuance detail of the sound produced when the finger is gliding through the string instruments

  • In Hans Zimmer’s Why So Serious, at minute 3.30, the part where the sub bass rumbles a little hard and there is a “hiss” like sound and i don’t even have to listen very hard to hear that note compared to other IEM which i had


Soundstage/Imaging

  • Soundstage on Axiom, in fact not just Axiom but any other IEM as well, i personally think that the deciding factor on how big/open of the said IEM is depending on the eartips and also the record itself

  • In this case, let’s talk about the soundstage of Axiom with the said eartips i mentioned before

  • The soundstage of Axiom based on my eartips choice,is not too big nor small, it doesn’t have the “out of head” kind of sensation, but it doesn’t feel very in your head either

  • Balanced depth and height to my ears

  • Imaging is excellent, instruments can be pinpointed easily and the left right channel transition is very smooth and you are able to hear the instruments going from left to right vice versa without having to be very focused on it

  • Instrument separation and the layering is very good, you can clearly hear each instruments clearly without one sounding muffled or attempting to over power each other


Driveability/Amping

  • Axiom is very easy to drive, straight out from phone’s 3.5mm jack is able to produce acceptable loudness

  • However, of course it does scale with better source as it will give a different kind of flavour depending on the source

  • In terms of sounding good, I'm not kidding when I said even on Apple’s Lightning Dongle, it sounded very good and clean. However of course when paired with iFi’s iDSD Nano Black Label, everything is on a whole different level

  • Tried amping it with a Class A portable amp, doesn’t seem to benefit much from it to my ears


Comparison with Axiom’s Black Module

  • In terms of technicalities, i don’t find much difference between the silver and the black module, they sounded more or less similar to my ears

  • Bass wise, i find the black module’s bass response is stronger compared to the silver’s (Which i preferred)

  • On the upper mids, black module doesn’t sound as full bodied compared to silver’s, silver module’s upper mids has got more body on the notes

  • Treble response on black module, in my opinion, has got more energy compared to silver’s. Silver sounded a little bit more tame compared to the black’s

  • Both module has good amount of air and sparkles

  • I’m definitely looking forward to new module that EA will be releasing, hopefully soon, to get a different taste



Final Thoughts

I’m sure everyone’s first thought will be like, This IEM costs 1499$ yet it doesn’t even come bundled with any cable, for the asking price, this is ridiculous isn’t it? That’s my initial thought as well, but as I try to understand the rationale and the target audience of Axiom, it made sense, at least to me. Axiom is marketed with sustainability in mind, and also i believe the target audience of Axiom will not be some new audiophile who’s recently got into this hobby, it is more for a seasoned audiophile or EA’s own group of customers where they already own several EA’s cables or cables from other manufacturer.


I like Axiom because of its tweakability. In fact EA mentioned that the customers are free to craft their own sound signature by pairing Axiom with different cables/eartips to form their own preferred sound signature. I personally have done that and I'm very happy with the result. Sure, at 1499$, it isn’t cheap, but with the modules that EA will be coming up with, it’s like having multiple IEMs at your disposal?


I have not tried many TOTL, in fact this is my first TOTL thanks to the opportunity given by EA. Will I recommend Axiom? Yes, for someone who likes to tweak like me, but not for someone who’s new into the hobby for sure.


If you are interested in ordering a pair, head over to EA”s site below Effect Audio’s Axiom





*The unit is kindly sent over by EA on loan in exchange for my review and thoughts. I am in no way under any sorts of influence from EA to produce a positive review, all thoughts and opinions are of my own



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