7. Sound
I enjoyed the Legend R from the first time I listened to it. George was right, they do sound very good. While the Legend R doesn’t have the widest sound stage on the market it is quite wide and deep, and I never got the impression it was too small. Sound is never inside your head either.
There’s always sufficient air between the instruments, especially in the mids and everything simply flows smooth and effortless. It isn’t an overly warm sounding monitor but it is on the warmer side of neutral and plays music with a lot of timbre and musicality. De LR displays a good amount of detail and clarity but the Harmony 8 Pro is a bit stronger in this regard, especially in the higher regions.
Depending on the cable and source used you will get bigger bass but on average the LR’s bass is great. I really like my bass and perhaps I even want more but the lower regions sound pretty damn good on the LR. Bass has good depth, is well layered and shows beautiful timbre. When called upon bass will be there and I’ve found it to suit every type of music I threw at it. Even better than the bass are the mids on the Legend R. This is where the LR really shines and they will “wow” you most. The LR has smooth, clear and musical mids and the balance between detail, clarity and musicality is oh so right. The mids just sound natural and have a lot of timbre and feeling to them. Of all the monitors I have these mids to me sound the best. The CE6 also has great mids but the Legend’s just are that bit more seductive.
Treble on the other hand isn’t the most extended or airy. You get a softer, smoother and earlier rolled off treble but it still fits in with the style of the monitor. You won’t get the level of detail of the H8P or even the CE6E’s treble. If you’re really looking for that, you might not find that here. I’m not sure it would fit in with the musical style/presentation of the Legend R either.
8. Competitors & Comparisons
The Legend R is the second 8-driver monitor I have; the first was the Custom Art Harmony 8Pro. Both monitors are very different yet great at the same time. The H8P seems more detailed as it has a tighter sound where the LR is more smooth and musical. The LR to me is the warmer sounding of both and its musicality vs a more analytic sound. The H8P is faster too. The LR’s bass impact is bigger and the mids have more feeling and timbre. Of course treble on the H8P is more extended and sparkling.
The other monitor that comes close to the LR is the Cosmic Ears CE6. My E version of the CE6 has a bit more bass but it’s the same kind of bass. The mids are also the strong point of the CE6 but the LR’s mids to me are still a bit more detailed and flowing, that just show you that extra bit of timbre. Treble on the CE6 is a bit more extended as the LR’s treble.
The Stage 5 from Rhines is completely different sounding, bigger looser bass and where the mids are the strength of the LR, they are the weak spot of the Stage 5. The 1964Ears V6s is more V curved than the R is. Treble is further extended, bass is tighter with less body and the mids are more in the back. I am expecting a few more monitors for a new comparison soon, and I will be adding them in to the mix when they get here somewhere in May. Of course Nathan also reviewed a whole bunch of customs but as he doesn’t have the Legend R, it is kind of hard to compare them to each other.
Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows
“Everything that’s wonderful is what I feel when we’re together”. Oh yes, I love the legend R’s sound and it definitely is in my top 3 of Custom Inear Monitors together with the Harmony 8 Pro and the Cosmic Ears CE6E. Depending on my mood, musical style and gear used these 3 monitors tend to switch position all the time, but the LR is right in there.
I really didn’t expect the Legend R to sound this good, I have to admit that George was right all along. If you’re looking for a TOTL affordable custom inear monitor, do put the Legend R on your to demo list. Earwerkz went international a few weeks ago, and a lot of their distributors now have demo units available.
If you prefer a highly musical monitor with good bass and great mids, the legend R might just be the one for you. At the same time you, until Jack lowers the sensitivity of the LR, will have to take into account they are prone to pick up hiss on certain devices, but for a lot of people it won’t even be audible.
Well done.
George Lai
Perhaps Earwerkz are the first to recognize that your left ear is quite different from your right, Lieven, and that is why they don’t pop out when you move your jaw unlike your other customs. Anyway I am glad you joined the club.
Headfonia_L.
Why do both of us end up talking about our ears all the time?
The Legend R is really great!
Shini44
nice review man, glad that you compared it with the harmony 8 pro, this gave me a better idea, also i see that you got Chord Hugo now, still waiting for that review before i pair mine with the HPA-01M 😀
Headfonia_L.
Thank you. I appreciate it after those awesome comments on Headfi. lol.
HUGO review should be up next week but I’ll give this away already. The Bakoon sounds really great with the Hugo but it’s not that you need a seprate amp with the Hugo. The Audezes sound great straight out of the Hugo, it just sounds different. not better or worse. Bakoon is a bit darker with more bass
Shini44
what about the current output with ciems, does it sound darker than the hugo’s amp section as well?
Headfonia_L.
especially the current
Brett
While I realize you haven’t demo’ed the newly announced Earwerkz Legend Omega, do you think that the Legend could use more bottom end? Or do you feel it would make it a bit bass heavy? I have been waiting for this review before pulling the trigger on the Legend R, but now with the addition of the Omega, I am having troubles deciding.
Headfonia_L.
Thanks. I don’t think the Legend needs more bass. And like I said in the review you can easily get more bass by using a DAP like the DX90 or X1/X3SG or a good cable
Brett
Thanks for the info. From your recommendation, I ended up buying a Linum BaX cable for my Noble CIEM’s and I hear that adds a bit of low a few weeks ago. I kid you not, I have been waiting on your review before pulling the trigger on this set of CIEM’s. Your all clear acrylic set sold me on the design as well.
Headfonia_L.
The Bax will do just that (bass). Please do let Jack know we convinced you and enjoy the monitors!
Brett
Will do! Thanks again for the excellent review!
Kev
Glad you mentioned the noise floor. This would be a deal breaker for me. At 27 ohms I didn’t think it would be an issue with portable sources. I was considering the Legend R, however I can’t tolerate anything less than a black background.
Thanks for the heads up.
Headfonia_L.
Do note I am extremely sensitive to this AND it will depend on your source used. A lot of people don’t even notice it
Kev
As a long time recording musician…I will definitely notice it.
Nobody in the studio would accept anything less than a completely black background during a mix or on a final CD master…so why should any end-user consumer be expected to tolerate it during listening playback?
To me, noise floor hiss is unacceptable.
Kev
As a long time recording musician…I will definitely notice it.
Nobody in the studio would accept anything less than a completely black background during a mix or on a final CD master…so why should any end-user consumer be expected to tolerate it during listening playback?
To me, noise floor hiss is unacceptable.
Headfonia_L.
If only the DAP makers would decently test their gear 😉
Max Coomer
What particular Plussound cable would you recommend on their site and
in particular what drop down options would you choose as I am not
really sure, like make, braide type etc, with the Legend R. If price was
no object only sound quality? I upgraded my cable to a BTG starlight
with a balanced 4pin XLR termination and really noticed the increase in
quality.
I am currently having my legend re-made as my left piece
did not sit in a much as to equalize the sound with the right. So was
looking at the Omega. I listen to trance music and love movies and their
soundtracks, classical and ambient on the side and the Legend is a
great all rounded set, but for movies I tend to stay with my
Beyerdynamic DT990, plus I have a Centrance Hifi M8 and without playing
music there is a background hiss, but with music, even quite pieces I
don’t notice any background hiss.
great article and thanks
Max Coomer
What particular Plussound cable would you recommend on their site and in particular what drop down options would you choose as I am not really sure, like make, braide type etc, with the Legend R. If price was no object only sound quality? I upgraded my cable to a BTG starlight with a balanced 4pin XLR termination and really noticed the increase in quality.
I am currently having my legend re-made as my left piece did not sit in a much as to equalize the sound with the right. So was looking at the Omega. I listen to trance music and love movies and their soundtracks, classical and ambient on the side and the Legend is a great all rounded set, but for movies I tend to stay with my Beyerdynamic DT990, plus I have a Centrance Hifi M8 and without playing music there is a background hiss, but with music, even quite pieces I don’t notice any background hiss.
great article and thanks
Headfonia_L.
Hi Max, Thank you. The Plussound cable I use is the Apollonian+ Series Custom Cable for In-Ear Monitors with permanent hot stamped heatshrinks. You can see a picture on instagram: https://instagram.com/p/0pGjHDFfob/?taken-by=plussound
https://instagram.com/p/1BMJOdBsbw/?taken-by=_lieven
Note is is an extremely nice and good sounding cable but it isn’t the most comfortable one if you’re going out with it. It’s doable (I do it) but it’s nowhere near invisible and it’s on the heavier side. Sound before comfort though 🙂
Let us now what you end up with.
Jon Choivo
Hey Lieven,
Nice review, im wondering how do these compare to the K10 or MH335, as these 2 are the only iems i like listening to, not a fan of JH (the only other one i listened properly to).
Thanks
Headfonia_L.
I wish I knew. And thanks, but I don’t have those monitors
Miko Belardo
Hi Lieven,
Another well written and informative review!
Regarding the sensitivity of the Legend R, I was wondering if you had any idea how it pairs with the Vorzuge Pure II+ in the context of background hiss …
Headfonia_L.
Hi and Thank you. Nathan has the Vorzuge and I have the Duet, so I couldn’t tell, sorry