FlipEars Arion Review: A New IEM To Add To Your Arsenal

FiipEars has given us a wide selection of high-end in-ear monitors. Between the Legion, Aegis, Zurq, Aurora, and more, audiophiles have always had plenty of options for beautifully crafted IEMs. Their latest flagship, the Arion, shows off just how great an IEM can get. For $2,500, FlipEars gives you a quadbrid driver arrangement in beautifully crafted silver. In this review, we dive deep into all the details of what makes the Arion a special IEM. 

Like the Legion and the Aegis, the Arion is impressively designed. It is hand-crafted by jewelers and painted very delicately to give the IEMs a unique shine. Flipears leans into the medieval and regal theme, with the battle horse proudly on the outside to make the Arion stand out as the flagship it is. The shell itself is a bit bulky, which could be a concern for smaller ears. However, with a variety of different eartips, finding a good fit isn't difficult. I was able to wear these for long periods of time very comfortably and without difficulty. 

The Arion's cable is of high quality and terminates in a 4.4mm connector, which is ideal for audiophiles. Passive noise isolation is excellent, and the loudness of the IEM allows you to focus on your listening and nothing else. It is easy to pair this with different DACs and amplifiers to elevate your listening experience. During my testing, I used products like the Chord MOJO 2, the iFi GO Blu, and the FiiO BTR17 for easy adaptability from the Arion to my phone and other devices. 

• Quadbrid Driver Configuration:
  • EarQuake Bone Conductor
  • 10mm Arion Dynamic Driver
  • Spark Electret Tweeter
  • Proprietary FlipEars Balanced Armature

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

The Arion impressed with its sound signature from the first track I put on. The soundstage is fairly wide, expansive, and wraps around you pretty well. I liked the depth that the signature had, allowing you to relax into the listening and take in the individual elements with ease. The separation between elements was a nice feature that I appreciated, allowing for every timbre and texture of those instruments to come through with ease. You could place things in the stereo field clearly and accurately, which adds to the immersive quality the Arion possesses. 

The overall signature is well balanced from the top highs to the deep lows. I was impressed with the way everything flowed seamlessly from one range to the other, offering good separation to place things accurately in the stereo field. The lows were especially impactful because of their colorful and textured reproduction, which made the entire signature more tactile and entertaining. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

The Arion has a very strong bass, likely thanks to the EarQuake bone conductor driver. The frequencies fill out the low end easily and completely. Color and flavor are not lost one bit. It is rich and deep, and takes up most of the signature as the prominent factor. In bass-heavy genres, I found the low end can become a bit much. It sounded very heavy in a way that overpowered some other elements in the track. By dialing this back or accentuating the highs more, you get a better balance that is more inviting to more genres. The sub-bass rumble is also quite effective and gives the bass more body than some other IEMs. This is where the tactile feel comes in and elevates your listening experience. For the people that love strong bass, the Arion is sure to be up your alley. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange is a highlight in the Arion. There is incredible detail in the mid-highs that makes vocals take center stage in placement and detail. Every element in a track is separated well and has a distinct texture and character to tell them apart. I wouldn't describe the sound reproduction as reference sound, but it certainly is colorful and dynamic. The Arion's midrange is for people who look for fun and entertainment in their tracks, something with good punch and character through multiple genres. I could listen to the Arion for hours and not get bored; I was finding new details and hidden elements in all my favorite tracks and fell in love with them all over again. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

When we reach the top end, the entire signature is tied together with a sparkle from the uppermost frequencies. The top end has nice shine and brightness that keeps the Arion from sounding too heavy. In especially bass heavy genres, the top end does take a backseat and the low end is much more pronounced, so the balance the Arion gets known for comes through significantly. The soundstage opens up a bit more with the way frequencies expand. I liked the clarity this range provided, and how it wasn't too sharp in its detail. You were able to appreciate the small nuances and lighter details of tracks without being too overwhelmed by an abundance of tiny elements. You got to hear the space of the Arion just as much as instruments in it, which sealed the deal on the immersive sound signature. 

The FlipEars Arion is a great option for people looking for their next flagship. From right out of the box, the design exudes luxury and peak performance. The battle horse on the front sells the theme of going into sonic battle, and it is ready to take you on a journey. The separation, detail, and clarity across the sound signature is entertaining and immersive in any genre. The bass is strong and the treble comes in to balance the entire signature, so you're ready to tackle any track. 

You can get the FlipEars Arion at Audio46.