Vision Ears PHöNIX Final Edition: Upgraded to a Flagship

Vision Ears is known to make some very classy IEMs, and this newest flagship is no exception. The Vision Ears PHöNIX Final Edition is the final installment in the PHöNIX series, following the Classic and Limited Edition models. The Final Edition of the PHöNIX retails for a whopping $4,999, and we were lucky enough at Audio46 to give it a listen. Is this the ultimate upgrade for audiophiles? Can other flagships hold a candle to this upgraded classic? Today, we review all the details to see what makes the PHöNIX Final Edition so great. 

The build quality for the PHöNIX Final Edition is very pristine. The IEMs themselves are more lightweight than you'd expect. The shell is relatively small and concaves just enough to be snug in your ear. The diamond-cut shell is a darker aesthetic with purple accents, and the VE logo is hidden behind a sapphire glass panel. This gives the PHöNIX Final Edition an extra shine in the right light, and the materials don't add any extra weight. They feel weightless when you wear them, and with the right eartip, you can get a decent seal to block out the ambient noise around you. The nozzle is a bit wider than a standard nozzle, but with the selection of eartips you get from the packaging, you are sure to find the right fit for your ears. I found the PHöNIX easy to wear for long periods of time, and the cable was equally comfortable. 

The Vision Ears PHöNIX Final Edition was great at being adjustable to any DAC you paired with it. For my listening, I opted for the iFi GR2, using the low gain mode so I could really get the sound of the DAC as well as the earphones. The PHöNIX Final Edition isn't a hard earphone to drive, and you can get by pretty well with a basic DAC dongle if your setup is geared towards compact travel. Still, using more high-end gear like a nice DAP from Astell & Kern or FiiO or a colorful DAC/Amp will definitely give more life to the PHöNIX Final Edition to make it more engaging. 

• PHöNIX Driver configuration:
  • 5-way system with 13 drivers
  • 4x Bass drivers (new!)
  • 4x Bass/mids drivers
  • 2x Mids drivers
  • 2x Mids/highs drivers
  • 1x Superhighs driver
• Impedance: 10 Ω (at 1 kHz)
• Frequency: 10 Hz - 25 kHz
• Sensitivity: 114.6 dB SPL@1KHz with 100 mV input

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

What does a $5k IEM sound like? The Vision Ears PHöNIX Final Edition produces a very wide soundstage that makes detail the first thing you notice. You get a clear picture of the sound in front of you, but it is still very immersive in the way it wraps around your head. The sound is wide horizontally, with a fair amount of depth to enhance the layers and separation. Imaging is pretty spot on, and it feels realistic in the way everything gets positioned around you. I was able to really immerse myself in the listening and step right into the center of my tracks. The PHöNIX did an exceptional job in making the instruments feel like they were being played right in front of you, rich with detail and startlingly clear. Elements were placed with pinpoint accuracy but still had a forward image so you didn't miss a thing.

The overall profile of the PHöNIX Final Edition was focused on detail. Throughout the signature, the one thing the bass, midrange, and treble frequencies had in common was the level of detail they all possessed. Everything sounded very natural and realistic, with the sound reproduction being level between all the ranges. As even as everything sounded, I found the PHöNIX being a touch treble-forward to bring out that extra layer of crispness in the instrument reproduction. I could see the PHöNIX Final Edition being used as a reference earphone based on the neutrality and realism of the signature, so it's geared towards musicians and audiophiles alike.

BASS FREQUENCIES

Bass frequencies are thick but controlled; you get good color and depth in this range while still being able to appreciate the detail in each instrument. It definitely takes a backseat in comparison to the rest of the ranges, but you still have a decent amount of power to make it noticeable and present in tracks. I liked how the PHöNIX's low end matched in punchiness for high-energy genres like rock or pop, but took on a calmer, warmer quality when it was in slower tracks. The bass laid out a good foundation for other frequencies to build up from, and you could hear the high end peeking through to give more crispness to the low-end instruments. Things were sharp but still had decent body, so the lows didn't get completely washed out or muddy. The PHöNIX's sub-bass extension was noticeable and much appreciated, making the low end feel more natural in its fullness and keeping the low frequencies from overpowering too much. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange of the PHǒNIX Final Edition comes slightly to the front to highlight timbres and textures of all the track elements, making everything instantly recognizable. You can appreciate the depth of the soundstage in the way midrange elements are layered and pushed backwards as well as to the side, so there is space for all the track details to live and be appreciated. Timbres of instruments in the PHöNIX were clearly heard, and they had a very realistic quality, so it was easy to distinguish the different elements against one another. Even as this range becomes more and more populated, the separation between elements was spacious in the wide soundstage so each element could be appreciated individually. While the realism and naturalness of the PHöNIX midrange was a highlight, it is worth noting that there is plenty of color and dynamic flair to this section that makes the instruments engaging during listening. I was a fan of the very realistic vocal reproduction, and how instruments built around that center element to create an immersive picture. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

At the top of the PHöNIX's range, treble frequencies are produced crisply and cleanly, sharpening the entire profile fairly easily. The detail from the treble carries throughout the midrange and bass. The top end shines very brightly and becomes a prominent part of the overall signature. I would say the treble stuck out the most to me in the PHöNIX, but it didn't overpower everything completely. Instead, it provided a great balance between the thicker low end and the detail-heavy midrange that held most of the melodic details. You could hear the space of large orchestras and little ear candy moments in tracks that were likely added in post-production, creating new moments of fun to find in every track. Frequencies were able to ring out and dissipate naturally into the open space and make the PHöNIX less fatiguing for longer listening sessions. 

Looking at the PHöNIX Final Edition price point, there are very few things that come to mind that you could compare this to. During my listening, I found myself comparing the PHöNIX Final Edition to other flagships from other companies. The first that came to mind was the Noble Audio Kronos, along with the Empire Ears ODIN MKII. Both of these IEMs stand as top-of-the-line models from their respective companies, which puts them perfectly in line to go against the PHöNIX. The Kronos is known for its spacious sound and close attention to detail, and some criticize it for its lack of bass response. The ODIN MKII, on the other hand, gets attention for its flashy outer design and the heavy bass response to go with it. Where does the PHöNIX Final Edition fall into this mix?

Looking at all three of them side by side, you'll likely find the most sonic similarities between the Kronos and the PHöNIX. The two lean on the treble side of their signatures and have more focus on detail as opposed to weight. The ODIN MKII has more attention on the bass response and is a very forward IEM, which you also see on the PHöNIX Final Edition. The PHöNIX puts forward its sharpness and treble clarity that you see run through to the low-end response, while the ODIN MKII lets the punchiness of the bass come through the most instead. Below, we have a helpful guide to the basics of how the other flagships stack up against the PHöNIX Final Edition. 

The Vision Ears PHöNIX Final Edition is an exemplary earphone for the most particular of audiophiles. The build quality showcases comfort and style, and the fit is great for long listening sessions. The PHöNIX signature is all about detail and precision, and you can hear that in the way the treble comes to the front and highlights finer details in even the busiest of tracks. The bass is impactful and grounding, and it does a great job of balancing out with the sharper detail coming from the treble. If you're an audiophile looking for your next flagship, the PHöNIX Final Edition makes a strong case for being a worthy addition.

At the end of the day, your ears will be the best judge. I highly recommend giving the PHöNIX Final Edition a listen if you can, and then you'll be able to make an informed decision whether or not it is your next upgrade.

You can try the Vision Ears PHöNIX Final Edition at Audio46.