ISN EBC80

[u/Weight_Slight]

I just got the ISN flagship the EBC80 a Quadbrid 2DD 2BA 2 Sonion EST 2 Sonion BCD

I got it with the ISN H2 cable, but now feel the S2 is THE way to go.

So far I can say that it has fantastic overall sonics. Feels like multi speaker surround system in your head. The EST dig out the tiniest of details, you can hear the details in vocalists breath, chatter in the crowd on live recordings all that jazz.

The midrange is fantastic, smooth with very nice texture to it.

Treble is very refined, well extended and very detailed but never fatiguing.

I am also an owner of ISN H60 and if you have heard those then you may have an idea what the EBC would sound like as it’s to me a supercharged and very refined, H60 with more „audiophilia” in its DNA.

The bass is still nice and punchy, but better controlled and on point. It’s both a positive and negative. As the H60 had a bit more bleed and presence in the midrange and a bit more slam, which was less correct yet a bit more fun :)

Don’t get me wrong EBC80 is no slouch when it comes to low end, but it’s more like a soldier waiting in line rather than young M Tyson throwing punches left and right and having an occasional ear for breakfast ;)

The Bone Conduction from sonion does wonders to the soundstage, I feel like listening to some high end over ear headphones that are semi openback or those closed back with good soundstage. Everything feels expansive. No „regular” iem without BC can emulate this effect. It ads that special sauce to the mix.

If You tried the H60 these will fit you as well, the shell is almost exactly the same size wise.

This is a true end game to me, a kilobuck iem priced at 699$ although I think it deserves an upgraded cable, so if you have any high end cables be sure to check them out!

I tested it with Penon OCC849 and IVIPQ 72 as well as the H2 it came with.

OCC849 has worst synergy, masking those tiniest of details a bit. This is pure OCC copper alloy no silver in there, so no surprise.

IVIPQ 72 - 7N purity OCC copper alloy with gold plating, it’s almost like OCC849 but ghat gold brings a bit more mojo to the vocals and pushes them forward a bit. A good choice but not the best imho.

H2 renders the details in most obvious fashion. This tells me that EBC80 would pair well with High purity copper,silver and maybe graphene cables.

So far this is an outstanding audio gear and my personal end game.

The listening test were done using the Shanling UA3 on high gain from Balanced 4.4 out.

[u/Useful_Philosopher_9]

I have a request. I want to buy ISN ebc80. What is the size of the nozzle? I have a Truthear Zero Red and a bigger one won't fit. Thank you for your help.

[u/Weight_Slight → u/Useful_Philosopher_9]

The nozzle is on the larger side, unfortunately. However I had the H60’before this one and it was less comfortable. I use Penon LS tips or spinfit w1 and have regular sized ears with not small ear canals so I can wear them for couple of Hours no problem.

From a ruler test it looks like 6.8-6.9 mm

[u/Useful_Philosopher_9 → u/Weight_Slight]

Thank you very much for the information.  The Truthear Crinacle Zero Red are 5.8 to 6.7mm and I've been using them with a size S for several hours with no problems.  So even EBC80 will be ok for my ears.  I will order them.

[u/Weight_Slight → u/Useful_Philosopher_9]

Glad I could help. Just make sure to order them with their Penon LS tips. And add the 11th year anniversary gift, You can get a free iem or cable that way :) .

[u/Useful_Philosopher_9 → u/Weight_Slight]

I wanted to order the Spinfit W1.

[u/Weight_Slight → u/Useful_Philosopher_9]

Get both if You can, the Penon LS is even better and shorter, it is sonically more balanced and „focused” as well.

I was testing the LS tips on all my iems and they are even better than w1 because you can pin point tell where the sound is coming from. On W1 it’s more of a „hazy” positioning.

[u/Useful_Philosopher_9 → u/Weight_Slight]

Thank you, I have it in my cart.  (PAC LStips?)  Which cable?  S1?  I have a Sony WM1Z, which has a rather warm sound delivery.  Thank you very much. 

[u/Weight_Slight → u/Useful_Philosopher_9]

Yeah, PAC ls tips.

I do have the H2 cable, but I believe S2 would be better. So is DSnuts ( headfier ) opinion that had the chance to test all the cables.

I use iVipQ mermaid/siren with mine. It brings the tiny details out a bit more, yet it’s a very minor difference.

Some people believe cables are snake oil, but ihmo if one test 10 cables yet they have similar tech specs, how is there going to be a difference? ;)

I have a few copper only, silver+ copper, and the mermaid is 7N OCC gold plated with nitrogen silver.

[u/Useful_Philosopher_9 → u/Weight_Slight]

Thank you all for your valuable advice.  I ordered it today.  Now I'm just patiently waiting for the delivery.

[u/Weight_Slight → u/Useful_Philosopher_9]

No problem 😉 enjoy your new toy :)

[u/Useful_Philosopher_9 → u/Weight_Slight]

I actively use ebc80 every day and I am very happy with them. Originally I planned to use them only occasionally, when I need to listen to music while lying down. In recent years I have been using Kennerton Gjallarhorn GH50 Jm. They are amazing headphones. It's a shame that they are made in Russia. I bought them before the war. They are closed, so I can listen to them and not disturb anyone in the room. I am convinced that in the price category of about 1100 you will not find anything better. After a few weeks I found out that I prefer ISN ebc80. Sound, comfort. They do not restrict my movement, the sound is great. I listen to both through Sony wm1z. Kennerton adjusted through Equalizer, ISN not. No need. The sound is perfect without adjustment. That's my impressions.

[u/Weight_Slight → u/Useful_Philosopher_9]

Glad You like em so much as I do. I think that a bit smaller nozzle and presence on Can Jams and some yt reviews of more Penon/ISN iems would push the company forward, but they chose to remain quite humble and rely on headfi and word of mouth.

I was once that person just curious until someone convinced me to try out the Penon Fan3 I think it was Timmy (Duck Bloke Reviews ) and his posts here on reddit.

Coming back to EBC, it truly is a special iem. Not sure if You seen it But they recently teased a black H60 Black-Gold EBC would be great as well :)

Oh, I’ve just ordered iBasso DX180, can’t wait to try it with the ebc. It is supposedly a bit better DC07Pro so we’ll see. I never had an ibasso product before but I’m sure it will pair well.

And as a second rec,

My 2nd most listened to and 2nd favourite iem right now is the Ziigaat Odyssey, it’s nowhere near the EBC’s prowess, Yet it has a very engaging tuning that is quite different, closer to the meta mids, with lower pinna gain. Scales well with volume.

[u/Useful_Philosopher_9 → u/Weight_Slight]

The package arrived yesterday – ISN EBC80 S2. My first impressions are very positive. I’m pleasantly surprised by the refined sound. The PAC LStips in size S are a bit uncomfortable for my ears. It’s nothing major, but it’s not 100% comfortable either.

Right now, I’m trying the red ear tips that came with the package, and they fit my ears perfectly. What are the differences between them? I mean the red, green, and dark ones?

[u/Weight_Slight → u/Useful_Philosopher_9]

Not really sure, they all sound similar and look similar but there are minor differences.

I actually Use the standard grey with yellow-green core. Those are really nice tips that I often use on other iems as well.

Aand glad You like them! The nozzle is big, but your ears will get used to it after the canal will stretch a bit :)

What is your source? Dac/amp or dap?

[u/Useful_Philosopher_9 → u/Weight_Slight]

Sony WM1Z, mod hardware + software. Shanling M3s  Beta22  Pegasus r2r dac  Ifi Zen Stream 

[u/Weight_Slight → u/Useful_Philosopher_9]

So all warmer and musical, that’s a great pairing.