Symphony Ears Pres5tige – Vocal Focused Smoothness
Preamble:
Symphony Ears may not have a high level of recognition, but this will soon change. This company is a labour of love by a single individual, Isaiah Schell, a young entrepreneur with obviously keen audio sensibilities. Each IEM is meticulously hand-assembled to order by Isaiah Schell; there are presently three available with variations.
The $679 Pre5tige, no I did not misspell that, is an ambitious IEM by any standards. The driver complement includes one 10mm bio-fibre dynamic driver for bass, one Sonion 26UA balanced armature for midrange, one Knowles 33518 balanced armature for the treble, a single 7mm magnetostat super tweeter and finally an 11mm bone conduction driver.
Regarding tuning, the Pre5tige offers a balanced sound signature with some vocal lift. This seems to be the signature direction of this IEM as the midrange, or more precisely vocals, is the shining star.
While the Pre5tige is moderately easy to drive, it’s always recommended to use a more capable source.
Specs:
1x 10mm bio-fiber dynamic driver for bass
1x 11mm bone-conduction driver
1x Sonion 26UA BA for midrange
1x Knowles 33518 BA for treble
1x 7mm magnetostat super tweeter
5 way electronic crossover
Build & Fit:
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Attractive IEM. Larger-sized shells with gorgeous top plate.
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Build quality is good, but not stellar. I noticed some rough areas on the shell.
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Medium size and ergonomic shape made for a comfortable fit.
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The supplied accessories are also of good quality.
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Good quality Black Cat cable, 4.4mm balanced end.
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Quality tips included.
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The included carrying case is generic, but functional, with a good useful size.
SOUND:
Bass:
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Bass goes relatively deep with decent authority.
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The presentation is more balanced than boosted.
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Rumble is there, but moderate.
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Mid-bass has great speed and snap. Nicely articulate.
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Bass texturing and detail are notable.
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The midrange and lower mids sometimes obscured Bass.
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Bass is natural and organic.
Midrange:
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Balanced midrange presentation. Vocals stand out in the mix.
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Detail retrieval is good, macro over micro.
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The lower midrange has warmth. Male vocals have a pleasing tone with good emotional delivery.
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Female vocals are clear and expressive.
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Pleasing timbre and balance.
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There is moderate pinna gain, and there is little to no harshness.
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Note-weight and density are good.
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Layering and separation are good but not class-leading.
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Transients exhibit a sharp, rapid attack with natural decay.
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Overall midrange clarity is pleasing, though not class-leading.
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Organic delivery with natural instruments and vocals.
Treble:
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The treble extension is reasonable.
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Inoffensive treble presentation. Some listeners might find it too controlled.
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Detail retrieval is good.
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Adequate quantities of sparkle and air.
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Treble does lack some energy on some tracks.
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The treble presentation complements the rest of the frequency range in tone.
The Pre5tige offers a balanced tuning overall, but vocals get some extra love. Well-recorded tracks are where the Pre5tige shines and its potential blossoms.
Bassheads will not be satisfied with the Pre5tige’s low end as it prioritizes balance in its tuning. It offers good detail and speed with adequate power and drive, though is sometimes a little obscured by the midrange. The tuning makes the treble inoffensive, which may put off treble lovers, with enough detail and sparkle and air so as not to sound congested.
Where the Pre5tige really performs is in the overall smoothness of playback, in particular vocals. The expressiveness of both male and female vocals is quite organic. It’s also notable how unrestrained the playback of transients is. The sharp attack caught my attention more than once.
IMAGING & SOUNDSTAGE:
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A moderate-size open soundstage.
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Instrument placement is accurate.
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The dimensions balance with a slightly more prominent width.
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Good instrument spacing.
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Layering and instrument separation are pleasing.
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Vocals are distinct from the music. Easy to follow.
CONCLUSION:
The Symphony Ears Pre5tige is something to be proud of. The scope of this release would be a challenge even for a seasoned larger company.
The tuning prioritizes balance over excess. Is the Pre5tige for everyone? No, and neither is any IEM made, IMHO. Vocal lovers, though, will find much to like in the sound of the Pre5tige.