December 2021 - 50

REVIEW
COMPLY foam tips, it isolates arguably
better than most closed-back headphones.
Sound
Audeze: Euclid Closed-Back
Planar Magnetic In-ear monitors
A sonically diverse front end for your direct recording needs
REVIEW BY PAUL VNUK JR.
I
itor
n the November 2020 issue of RECORDING, we listened to the LCD-X
Planar Magnetic open-back headphones from Audeze. This month, we
return to the Planar Magnetic paradigm with the new Euclid ClosedBack
Planar Magnetic In-ear monitors.
Meet the Euclid
Euclid is a universal fit in-ear mon(IEM)
made of
lightweight
precision-milled
aluminum with a carbon fiber
end cap. It has a roughly 1 " circumference
and 1.25 " depth (sans ear tip). You
can choose between standard Audeze
rubber tips and COMPLY brand foam
compression tips in multiple sizes. Euclid
comes with a detachable custom 3.5mm
unbalanced Audeze MMCX 4' braided
cable; 4.4mm balanced and Bluetooth
options are available. The Euclid, cable,
tips, clip, and cleaning tool all fit snugly
in a high-quality mini-pelican-style case.
A Planar Magnetic IEM
Typical in-ear monitors use one or
more balanced armature drivers (magnetic
coils and diaphragms) to produce
sound. Similar to planar magnetic headphones,
a planar magnetic in-ear design
uses opposing magnets to vibrate a flat,
ultra-thin diaphragm etched with metal
traces. In the case of Euclid, this includes
ultra-sensitive, sonically coherent Fluxor
magnets and Uniforce voice coils.
Euclid is a single-driver design that,
like its headphone cousins, makes
use of Audeze Fazor technology. This
unique waveguide functions outside
of the opposing magnets, and helps
50 RECORDING DECEMBER 2021
In the ear
Euclid is bigger and more bulbous
than most universal fit IEMs, yet once they
were in-ear, they fit well and sat relatively
flush to my outer ear. Once I settled on
the smallest COMPLY foam tip, they were
quite comfortable and very well isolated.
Scenarios
I tested the Euclid mixing live sound
on an Allen and Heath digital mixer,
tracking in the studio with a Universal
Audio Apollo x8p, podcasting with a
Shure MV7 USB mic (using its built-in
headphone jack), and for hi-fi listening
through my RME ADI-2 DAC FS. In
each case, Euclid performed well; the
IEM-specific output of the RME allowed
Euclid to shine with the most openness
and clarity.
Euclid does not isolate as much as a
custom-molded IEM, yet when using the
mitigate sonic ripples from crossing
paths that cause distortion.
Sonically, Euclid has a tight low end,
with a low-mid forward punch rather than
a substantial low reach. Tom hits, the force
of a kick drum and bass guitar notes are
all well defined. Just note, the low end
of the Euclid is very polite vs. engulfing
or exaggerated. The upper midrange is
where the magic of the Euclid lives, offering
an incredible sound stage with an ultradetailed
presence. This is an excellent in-ear
for discerning every nuance and intricacy
in electric and acoustic guitars and vocals,
and especially vocal harmonies. The high
end is clear, open and feathery, with zero
stridence or bite, even on aggressive music.
No distortion (so you can
know distortion)
I really appreciated that I could discern
zero breakup, distortion or collapse of
the signal even at (brief), pushed, loud
listening levels. With Euclid, if you hear
distortion in a track, it is in the track,
not in the IEM-great for dialing in and
checking the details of a mix.
Compared to my other in-ear monitors,
custom mold and universal, the
Euclid can sound less closed in and 'in
your head' than typical in-ear designs.
The Euclid sound is different from the
norm and did take a bit of getting used
to, but once I did, it was easy to forget
they were in my ears. While some inears
are hyped and others are neutral,
Euclid leans towards natural.
Wrap Up
A sound and design this unique does
come at a price, but if you are looking for
a new way to enjoy listening to music and,
better yet, digging into the depths of your
mixes, they are well worth checking out.
Price: $1299
More from: audeze.com
Maximum Power Handling: ......................................................... 500mW RMS
Maximum SPL: ...................................................................................... >120dB
Frequency Response: ................................................................10 Hz - 50 kHz
THD: ..........................................................................................<0.1% @ 100dB
Impedance: ...........................................................................................12 ohms
Sensitivity: ............................................105dB/1mW (at drum reference point)
http://www.audeze.com
December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2021
