FlipEars Arion

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Audio46 Purchase – FlipEars Arion

 

A Little Technical Stuff: 

Specs 

• EarQuake™ Bone Conductor
• 10mm Arion Dynamic Driver
• Spark v2 Electret Tweeter
• 3 Proprietary FlipEars Balanced Armatures
• Custom Eletech Flagship Cable
• Hand-crafted faceplates by the Master Jewelers of Bulacan

   -MRSP: Universal fit $2499.00

Hello from the Audio Rabbit Hole!

I want to extend a big thank you to Tony and the Audio46 Team for generously loaning me the FlipEars Arion for both my review and listening enjoyment. Once again, I reached out and said, “Hey, I’m a bit bored,” which really means, “I’m craving something new to listen to.” And as always, they were more than happy to oblige.

Many thanks to the Audio46 Team!

Now, you might be wondering about FlipEars. Who are they, and what’s the deal with the Arion? FlipEars is the first Filipino company dedicated to making universal and custom in-ear monitors.

Founded by singer-songwriter Aries Sales, FlipEars pays homage to the Filipino spirit and passion for music, all while maintaining a high standard for sound quality and music appreciation.

So, what’s the Arion all about? To better understand, I thought I’d share a video from FlipEars’ Founder, Aries Sales, where he discusses it. The title is “FlipEars Arion: Engineering the Sound of Resilience.” FlipEars Arion: Engineering the Sound of Resilience

The Arion is actually my second experience with a FlipEars IEM. The first one was the Legion, which featured a bass-heavy design built for bone conduction. It was incredibly engaging, musical, and just plain fun. I enjoyed it, but ultimately, it was a catch-and-release for me. It has a MSRP of $849, making the Arion about three times that price.

When I dove into the specs of the flagship Arion, I expected a similarly bass-centric experience. Here’s a little spoiler for you: yes, it’s bassy, but it also delivers a great deal more of that flagship essence, which I guess I hoped for given its $2,499 price tag. With only 150 units available worldwide, this is certainly a unique offering.

Let’s take a deep dive into the audio rabbit hole with this one! Will it be the blue pill or the red pill? Just a hint: the Arion is most definitely not the blue pill; its tale is a red pill that leads us deeper into Wonderland.

A Little Marketing Hype, straight from their site, no edits:

The Warrior Rides.

From the very beginning, the warrior was forged in fire — armored with the Aegis, his strength unshakable, his resolve immovable. He faced the cacophony of chaos with the Legion, a helmet of clarity that cut through the roar of the battlefield. His ears guarded, his soul armored, he braved every trial.

But the war is never over.

Now, the warrior calls upon Arion — the steed bred for storms, the battle horse carved from thunder. This is not just a continuation of the Arsenal Collection. This is its ascent. The ride into sonic greatness.

The Arsenal Evolves

 Arion is the pinnacle of FlipEars innovation — a quadbrid force unlike any before. Every component is built in-house or exclusively developed for this purpose. This is no rehash of borrowed technology — this is FlipEars’ declaration of independence and identity.

EarQuake™ Bone Conductor

 Rumbles like hooves through earth. It delivers jaw-shaking low-end resonance that you don’t just hear — you feel.

10mm Arion Dynamic Driver

Custom-developed for this model, it brings galloping energy and textured, lifelike midbass with unmatched authority.

Spark Electret Tweeter

The same driver found in the Legion, honed to perfection — delivering ultra-extended highs with clarity that slices through the din.

Proprietary Balanced Armature

WHAT’S IN THE BOX:

 Included

• FlipEars Arion
• Assorted ear tips, some appear to be Eletech Baroque tips, amongst other silicone tips
• Zippered storage/carrying case
• Envelop with informational cards and sealed with a wax seal
• Premium dual 2-pin balanced Eletech cable with a 4.4 mm balanced termination

 Unboxing and Accessories

The Arion unboxing is kind of mediocre on the luxury front, but for some reason, it also satisfies my tastes. While I do enjoy the pampered feel, such as the Erlkonig unboxing experience did, I also take comfort in knowing that we can have nice things in an unboxing, without extravagance. It lets me know that more focus is on sound quality, and to me, that is a big thumbs up. I will say there is a certain elegance to the display/storage case for the IEMs and to the way they are presented to you once you open it.

The packaging is very focused on the theme, specifically the FlipEars Arsenal Collection and Arion. Arion is the steed, the horse, and it is the pinnacle of the Arsenal Collection. There is a big story about Arion; you can do your research on that.

They adorn the box with an outer sleeve featuring Arion on the front and the company branding. The back of the sleeve introduces you to Arion, the steed, as well as the technology inside the IEMs. Once you remove the sleeve, you are greeted by a black box with the FlipEars logo on top and a magnetic flap.

When you open the box with the logo, you’ll find a black wax-sealed envelope. Inside, you’ll find all the informational literature along with the warranty.

Beneath the envelope lies a high-quality storage case, sturdily constructed and perfectly cradling the IEMs. Upon opening the case, you’ll see Arion’s faceplates, along with a card featuring the Arion logo. Underneath the card, the attached cable is neatly stored, along with a mesh bag containing ear tips. I love the quality and design of the storage/display case, great addition.

The Eletech cable is an impressive addition to the package. I confirmed that it’s a custom tuning by Eletech specifically for Arion. It features 24.5 AWG 4-Wire Eletech Silver-Plated OCC and a 7 Core Litz design. The ergonomics and overall build quality are outstanding. However, one drawback is that it lacks a chin slider, which may be a downside for those who prefer it.

This unboxing description might be more detailed than necessary, especially since there are photos in this review, so I’ll let those do the talking.

Build Quality and Fit:

The build quality is truly impressive, and the aesthetics give off a unique vibe, resembling pieces of jewelry. I also found the design of the Legion to be particularly distinctive, much like many of the FlipEars products I’ve encountered. However, I tend to prefer more understated in-ear monitors, so a simple black shell is more my style.

Recognize that beauty is subjective; it truly lies in the eye of the beholder. Fit and quality are also matters of personal preference. The shell and faceplate are crafted with precision, showcasing expert workmanship. There are no visible seams, and the connection between the faceplate and resin shell is seamless and flawless.

I want to give credit where it’s due. The shell, while it may be a bit larger for smaller ears, fits me perfectly and I can wear it comfortably for hours on end without experiencing any fatigue or needing to constantly adjust it for comfort. In my opinion, it features a fantastic ergonomic design.

I quickly reached for the largest ear tip in the mesh bag and was pleased to find it provided a comfortable fit and an excellent seal. This is truly a rarity for me when it comes to the included ear tips.

Let’s revisit the ornate faceplate. This white brass faceplate resembles something you might uncover in a rare coin collection. Crafted by skilled jewelers in Bulacan, Philippines, it showcases a level of artistry that commands attention. Even if ornate faceplates aren’t typically your style, it’s hard not to admire the beauty and meticulous craftsmanship they display.

Review Setup:

I crafted the review using several key sources: the Pixel 10 Pro, complemented by an Astell & Kern HC5 dongle, the Astell & Kern PD10, and the powerful Fiio M27 Ti. For my music samples, I delved into a variety of formats, including 320 kbps, FLAC, and 24-bit audio. Additionally, I explored streaming services such as Tidal, Spotify Lossless, and Qobuz to round out my experience.

Moving on to the sound section….

In short, the FlipEars Arion offers a listening experience that is smooth, expansive, and detailed, while also capturing an airy quality and delivering remarkable bass presence. The Arion is not a difficult IEM to drive, so finding a source to compliment your purchase, should be simple.

Using the Astell & Kern gear, I find the overall sound signature to be incredibly captivating and smooth, with impressive staging and detail.

However, when I switch to the Fiio M27 Ti, it’s like stepping into an entirely new realm. The spaciousness of the soundstage feels akin to listening to music through an open-back pair of headphones.

I was listening to Russ Freeman’s “East River Drive” and was struck by the impressive level of detail and layering, with plenty of space around the instruments and notes. I made a conscious effort to approach my initial listening session with the Arion without any bias, considering my previous experience with the Legion. While the Legion offered a bass-heavy sound that was engaging, musical, and simply fun, the Arion clearly takes things to the next level. One drawback of the Legion was a noticeable peak in the upper mids, which ended up causing a bit of fatigue during longer listening sessions.

I genuinely appreciate the Dynamic Driver bass produced by the Arion. It provides a rich sound profile, with notable presence not only in sub-bass but also in mid-bass. While I am not 100% certain of exactly how Aries Sales utilized the bone conduction technology, I feel it is providing a good fill that affects the overall audio signature; there’s a unique bass reverberation that differs from typical decay. This reverberation doesn’t compromise the quality; instead, it enhances the focus on the sound.

When I listen to Infected Mushroom’s “Never Mind,” the bass resonates deeply, offering a visceral texture without any distortion. It’s exhilarating and makes me feel that this IEM truly does justice to electronic music, especially genres like trance and psy-trance. Switching gears to a more plucky jazz bass sound, like that of Marcus Miller’s “Detroit,” showcases its full capabilities, delivering a clean and larger-than-life sound experience.

I’ve previously praised the Legion’s impressive bass performance, but it’s worth noting that the Arion also delivers robust, consistent bass. So, what sets these two models apart in terms of bass quantity? The primary distinction lies in the balance of mids and treble. When one frequency is emphasized over the others, it can overshadow the overall sound signature. In my opinion, the Arion strikes a better balance across the entire frequency range.

Before I dive into the mid-range, I want to touch on female vocals. I took the time to critically listen to three different styles of music featuring female singers. First up is Sade with “Your Love is King.” Her style is smooth and isn’t overly prominent in the mix. The Arion captured her essence beautifully, delivering her vocals with ease and without any harshness.

Next up is Esperanza Spalding’s “I Know You Know.” Her vocal style can be a bit unpredictable at times, occasionally soaring to higher pitches, but it never feels jarring when listening through the Arion. One of the standout aspects of her music is how it brilliantly highlights her extraordinary talent on the bass. Overall, her sound is truly exceptional for an IEM like the Arion.

Lastly, I wanted to mention Norah Jones’s track “All This Time” from her album *Visions*. While it might not be my personal favorite song of hers, it serves as an excellent test track. The vocals on this song are quite prominent. I found that when I increased the volume on the Arion, it felt a bit overwhelming, but it sounded perfectly fine at a moderate listening level. It is forward, and heavily vocal forward music would not be my first choice with Arion. This reaction is partly due to the way the song is mixed; if you’re familiar with it, you’ll understand my point.

Why is there so much discussion about female vocals? I want to ensure that I capture any upper midrange fatigue that may exist, as this was my biggest criticism of the Legion. I’m pleased to say that the upper mids are notably forward without being spiky or peaky. Those who are familiar with my reviews know that I don’t rely on frequency response graphs; I prefer to judge based on what I hear. To help me better understand what I was experiencing in the upper mids, I looked at a frequency response graph. Those of you who analyze graphs should be proud. I noticed a lift around 2kHz. This lift wasn’t a spike; it gradually declined toward 4kHz. The decline is constant and smooth, unlike the sharp spike that can cause upper midrange fatigue. This observation makes sense.

As previously stated, using the Astell & Kern as my source, I found the overall sound signature to be smoother while still providing excellent detail retrieval. It’s clear that the source matters.

The treble produced by the Spark v2 Electret Tweeter is very clean and pure. At first, I had some reservations about the treble, but as I became more accustomed to it, I recognized its crucial role in the overall sound signature. It provides the final touch to the balance I mentioned earlier. While the treble is clear and slightly sparkly, it still retains a smooth quality. Listening to John Bonham’s cymbal crashes in Led Zeppelin’s “Fool in the Rain” reassured me of the treble’s natural sound and calmed any concerns I had about it sounding unnatural.

From a technical perspective, the Arion truly stands out for its ability to create a spacious soundstage. This feature allows listeners to appreciate a remarkable sense of layering, airiness, and separation among the notes. It genuinely feels like an immersive musical journey. I have yet to encounter a genre that fails to highlight the Arion’s impressive technical prowess. I am certain that the bone conduction EarQuake driver has a part in the immensity of the stage.

 

You might want to own this IEM if:

 + You want an IEM that opens a portal to another dimension, where the soundstage is so wide you’ll swear you accidentally put on full‑size open‑backs from an alternate universe.

 + You crave detail that whispers sweet nothings into your ears, instead of slapping you with a lab coat and a microscope.

 + You enjoy listening sessions so smooth and non‑fatiguing that you forget time exists and your playlist becomes a spiritual journey.

 + You want treble that sparkles like fairy dust sprinkled by an elven blacksmith, without a single shard of sibilant shrapnel.

 + You need bass that rumbles like a friendly earthquake, the kind that rearranges your soul but politely leaves your furniture intact.

 Haha, this review really took it out of me! I just had to find a little mental escape, so I let my fun, campy dark personality shine through as a way to unwind, in the above You might want to own this IEM if: section.

 In Closing

I appreciate your patience as I share my long-winded thoughts. If Aries Sales, the owner of FlipEars, happens to read this, he may be curious about the scrutiny directed at his product. I believe the IEM has a lot to offer, and I aimed to convey my personal impressions thoughtfully. Keep in mind, everyone’s experience may differ. This hobby is highly subjective.

Writing this review reminded me of why I enjoy diving into new audio gear. The Arion stands out with its unique character, craftsmanship, and sonic depth, definitely warranting a thorough exploration. FlipEars has crafted something remarkable, and I wanted to give it the recognition it deserves through honest impressions and attentive listening. Now that I’ve covered the critical aspects, I’m delighted to take off my analytical hat and simply relish the Arion for what it truly is: a beautifully constructed, perfectly tuned IEM that brings music to life.

As always, your experience may vary, but for me, this has been a fulfilling journey into the impressive capabilities of FlipEars when they’re at the height of their craft.