Ah… Earsonics. They’ve been around for almost as long as I’ve been in the hobby, and I can distinctly remember their original SM3 being one of the most sought-after TOTL IEMs back in the day. They have traditionally been a staunch BA purist-type of company, slowly maintaining their small but dedicated fanbase since their heyday in the 2010s.

At least until very recently, with the release of the Blade and Stark. Earsonics’ first foray into the wild and whacky world of hybrid technology, years after everyone else has had their turn.

But despite this sudden bout of innovation, there are some oddities that this French company will stubbornly cling onto even if it meant losing their grasp on the ever-evolving demands of the young porta-fier. First is their inexplicable decision to invert the polarities on their 2-pin connections, a decision that the rest of community have drawn ire to ever since the very beginning.

The other oddity is a bit of a contentious topic but also highly relevant: their house sound. Read on.