Compared to Eminent Ears Sapphire (Review coming soon!)
Sapphire is a 1DD+4BA+1BCD tribrid, the second IEM released by Eminent Ears with a fairly lower price than Ruby, being retailed for $1400. Overall, Sapphire is more low-mid centric and emphasizes more musicality and depth, whereas Ruby desires a brighter and more expansive sound that opens towards the upper headroom.
Sapphire has a warmer, smoother, and darker sound. Vocals are thicker, warmer, and bulked-up in body, with prominently boosted sub-bass quantity – but still not overwhelming. While Ruby’s sub-bass quantity was more equivalent to a slightly v-shaped sound, Sapphire’s sub-bass quantity is similar to those that are V-shaped. Despite the boosted bass, Eminent Ears has well-controlled the bass so the mid-range isn’t recessed – though the vocals are less penetrative and technical.
Meanwhile, Ruby is higher in overall resolution throughout the spectrum, with better high and ultra-high extension and sharpness. But as you’d expect, this also leads to the listening comfort – Sapphire shares a lot of characteristics of Ruby but is smoother and further-polished for easier listening. While Ruby was a bit genre/track-dependent, Sapphire easily handles all sorts of genres.
Another thing that I’ve noticed is that the ‘focal point’ of the sound (or the ‘center’ of sound) is different between these two. Ruby’s focal point is placed right in the middle, while Sapphire is shifted a bit lower. This gives a stronger sense of stability, weight, and depth but is less airy and open-ended than Ruby.
Compared to Nostalgia Audio Durandal (Review link)
The advantage or difference that Durandal has over Ruby is the quieter, purer background / back tone. This applies across the entire frequency range, which is a big advantage for Durandal. This leads Durandal to have a noticeably cleaner bass, vocal, and treble atmosphere. Sure, both have a calm, pitch-black color, but Durandal’s is cleaner, quieter, and darker. Also, Durandal’s bass dynamics are livelier, making the bass sound a bit more realistic or “breathing in life”. Durandal also creates an airier atmosphere for the vocal range.
However, Ruby has a just as strong weapon to fight back against Durandal. As we start tuning into the bass, Ruby starts to show its dominance. Ruby’s ultra-low extension and bass punch are better, providing a more masculine, fully immersive extension and color for the bass. The bass rumbles are clearer and stronger, and also more plentiful in quantity. Alongside, while the staging atmosphere may be quieter on Durandal, Ruby’s bass timbre is more solemn, as well as deeper – in both color and bass extension. The trebles are crispier and more prominent in presentation, making it a strong, charming point for those who enjoy biting into prominent treble strikes and snares but also in a comfortable manner.
For the vocals, it’s rather a matter of preference/taste. Ruby’s vocals are slightly creamier and sweeter in tone, while Durandal has more liveliness and this “breathing in life” feeling, thanks to its more three-dimensional presentation. The vocals sound overall fancier and airier. However, for those who want linear, more “phasing-natural” vocals, Ruby will serve you better as Durandal highlights more 3D effects to the sound (although never unnatural or overdone). If you enjoy the extra richness and spatialness brought by a carefully tailored tuning, Durandal would fit you better.
Final Verdicts
I believe many manufacturers nowadays use electrostatics for mainly two reasons: extended ultra-high extension & refined texture. As said, I believe the performance is more about the right tuning and skills than simply applying the newest “superior” technology or driver. It’s not just based on my thoughts, but there are living testimonials, and one of the strong examples is Ruby.
Eminent Ears’ Ruby is a perfect choice for those who want a neutral timbre, deep bass, cleansing and airy mid-high, and crisp texture details – and executing these while not getting harsh or easily fatiguing. Despite Ruby’s familiar DD+BA+EST combo, which has now pretty much turned into a typical or even a ‘traditional’ driver combo for some, Ruby skillfully melting technicality into a lush sound signature goes neck to neck with its competitors using a flashier driver setup or even better. Attention, people, it’s about the tuning, not all about graphs and drivers. If not convinced, let Ruby herself speak for YOU!
