Audeze Euclid Closed-Back Planar Magnetic In-Ear Headphones (Review)

We are no strangers to the Audeze brand. The company has been launching spectacular models, one after the next since 2009. Covering solutions for casual listeners, competitive gamers, and audiophiles alike. We are fans of the Mobius gaming headset, as well as the LCD-2 Classic. Two completely different options that are firmly established within the niche of each. Now, we’ve had the chance to also experience the Audeze Euclid (pronounced “You-Klid”), a closed-back planar magnetic in-ear solution that continues this trend.

This is an in-ear model reserved for serious listeners with a respectable budget. Another model that packs planar magnetics within a small footprint. Each bud containing an 18mm full-range driver, capable of spanning a range of 10Hz to 50kHz.

These drivers are encased within an aluminum body with a touch of carbon fiber on the face of each. Black, with gold accent running around them. With MMCX plugs, these can connect to any MMCX wire you may have, or you have the ability to choose between the options Audeze has to offer or includes within the package.

The cables you receive depend on the kit that you purchasing or whom you are purchasing from. Some dealers list it with simply the 3.5mm unbalanced MMCX cable (with 1/4″ adapter), while others (including Audeze’s website, it seems) list it with two additional options, including a 4.4mm balanced and a wireless Bluetooth module.

Both the 3.5mm unbalanced and the 4.4mm balanced cable feature a braided design with gold plating, as well as thin plastic sleeves/tubing for shaping them around your ears.

While the Bluetooth module/cable features a normal cable design with an in-line module on one side (likely the battery) and an in-line remote on the other. The remote features your typical 3-button design with each button performing multiple tasks for volume, track control, and taking/answering phone calls. The section of the wire that runs over your ear has a bendable design that allows you to shape it to your ears. We find it is easier to comfortably seat the bud in your ear, press against it with one finger to hold it in place, and wrap the wire around to form it the first time.

In most cases though, you will likely be focusing your attention on the 3.5mm and 4.4mm options more so than the Bluetooth. For the purpose of maximizing the quality that you can get from these. The Bluetooth cable performs quite well, but analog is where they shine.

Both cables, in our experience, led to the same great experience. As to why there are two to pick from, it’s best to quickly cover what balanced vs unbalanced means. Balanced offers a greater amount of rejection for external noise/interference, potentially resulting in cleaner audio. Experiencing the difference between unbalanced and balanced is heavily dependent upon your hardware and the cable being used (cable and amp need to properly support it).

In most cases, a dedicated headphone amp or mobile DAC is going to be where the balanced 4.4mm cable comes into play since most mobile devices use unbalanced 3.5mm. Many larger amp solutions use 1/4″, which brings you to using the 3.5mm as well. However, when you spend a little more, you tend to find support for balanced connectivity through either a 4.4mm or XLR connection in addition to the 3.5mm or 1/4″ connectivity.

Is your sound going to sound incredibly richer and more magnificent if you use the balanced? Probably not. It may simply sound cleaner. However, in many cases, you might not notice the difference (or will find it difficult to point it out).

This is a nice option to have though, even more so when you consider the flexibility of also having the Bluetooth wire so that you can take these on the road with you. Without having to be tethered to an amp or DAC of any kind.

The in-ears do come with an included Pelican case to tuck them away into. Keeping them safe during travel, along with one cable of choice. The buds travel separately from the cable, adding additional protection so that the MMCX connection points are never taking any stress.

You also get a padded mesh bag to store your additional accessories within. As for those accessories, you do get a velcro strap for the cable, a clip for clothing, a cleaning tool, and multiple options for tips. As mentioned before, what you get depends on where you buy into these. The simplest form includes three pairs of silicone tips and three pairs of Comply foam tips. While a more complete kit option may come with three pairs of SpinFit silicone tips as well.

Performance

We paired these with a number of amps. Of which, we found many of the mobile options performed well enough to favor them. Allowing you a little mobility vs being tied to a static solution that forces you to stay seated in the same area.

We tried pairing with the Questyle M15 for both 3.5mm and 4.4mm. The result was solid highs and mids, with decent mid lows and a little low-end. The Astell & Kern PEE51 was somewhat similar, as well as the Dragonfly Red. Overall, the resulting range was well balanced without the highs being exhausting or the lows being overwhelming. The lows were timid in some tracks, and just enough in others. These likely aren’t a solution if you are looking for a low-end that really packs a presence though.

We tried pairing these with the SPL Phonitor X amplifier. This was a little too much amp for these. Not in a bad way when it comes to quality, but just in the way that you are throwing more at it than you’ll ever get back (overkill). That being said, the result was clean, with lots of range, and a little more low-end. Although this could have been a placebo effect as there was a lot more everything to go around.

The Creative Super X-Fi amp featured no bass at all. However, when you enable the amp’s special effects, it results in a huge soundstage. The lack in range though makes this a poor pairing. We wouldn’t recommend it for these in-ears.

We found the clear winners were the Questyle and Dragonfly options, as well as moderate desktop amp solutions. The Phonitor X, as mentioned is a little more than what’s needed. However, there are models that run half the cost or less that would be perfect for these. While even more affordable options may or may not make the cut (ie, the Little Dot MK2 did not make the cut this round).

In our matching, we did try to see if we could bring the lows a little more forward for those who do like a little more bass presence. However, even with the larger amps, we couldn’t really accomplish this. So it is what it is with this model.

There has been a number of artists and genres that match well with these. Some include names like Tom Petty, Sting, Billy Eilish, Gorillaz, and Dire Straits. Along with some less known but fantastic options, like Carlos Franzetti and Rebecca Pidgeon. Great for music that has a heavy focus on brass, strings, and melodic vocals.

There is little noise that passes from your clothes through the cable to your ears, which allows you to move around a little more without having to worry about a lot of vibrations and other things that can be quite distracting. In this case, your attention remains on what you are listening to.

The bodies of the buds are a little on the large side. So if buds that have a little bulk to them cause you discomfort during long periods of use, these will likely do the same. Every pair of ears are unique and react differently to this kind of thing,

Our Conclusion

Is this our favorite in-ear option that we have ever come across? No. However, it does a fantastic job at being one that we have been very happy with and will continue to listen to with a smile running across our faces (at least mine for sure).

It is a pricey model, but this is a combination of quality and the fact that planar magnetic options can get quite expensive naturally due to their complexities.

The highs and mids are finely detailed for in-ears. Crisp without being too bright and overly exhausting, and enough range to catch the subtle details within a whisper. The mid-lows are impressive, while the lows are just enough to compliment the rest.

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Are you a manufacturer or distributor that would like us to test something out for review? Contact us and we can let you know where to send the product and we will try it out.

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