[Viewpoint] After 10 years in the Olympus of high-end IEM headphones, Empire Ears closes

Not without some concern, I find myself once again reporting news that is anything but reassuring for this market. A couple of weeks ago, Empire Ears, a U.S. company with a cult following among enthusiasts of top‑tier in-ear monitors (IEM) headphones, also shut down. The Odin model (around €3,500) is considered by many reviewers to be among the best IEMs available today. It's certainly fair to say that Empire Ears had carved out a solid place for itself in the niche of high‑end in‑ear monitors. Yet, as stated on the homepage of its official website, market conditions have shifted and operating costs have risen to the point of making the path begun ten years ago - one that had yielded excellent results - unsustainable. The announcement also mentions health issues, though it's unclear what exactly this refers to. A year ago, one of the minds behind Empire Ears, Jack Vang, left to found Volk Audio, another company focused on high‑end IEMs.

In recent years, the company had attempted to reposition itself by experimenting with wireless headphones and Bluetooth accessories, signalling an awareness that consumer habits were shifting toward convenience and integration. Unfortunately, these moves toward a more mainstream market did little to help; if anything, they may have diluted its reputation as a manufacturer of uncompromising high‑end IEMs. Evidently, and contrary to what many might assume, wealthy enthusiasts willing to spend €3,000-€4,000 on wired in‑ear headphones were not enough to keep the business afloat - and competition from Chinese brands in the high‑end IEM segment is brutally fierce.

Another piece of discouraging news is the sudden shutdown of The Daily Audiophile, a well‑known portal that aggregated constantly updated hi‑fi reviews from around the world. As it was essentially a one‑man operation, it's possible that in this case the closure wasn't dictated by market forces but more likely by personal (or health‑related) issues affecting Mark Wieman, the person who kept the service running. The site now appears to be permanently off-line.

Unfortunately, the brilliant ideas of a single visionary are both wonderful and fragile, because they rest entirely on one person's shoulders. As you may have noticed, TNT‑Audio itself is the product of an international team, but it has gone through several changes over the decades, with yours truly holding the reins and keeping everything organized and running. One thing is clear: it's highly likely that TNT‑Audio will eventually meet the same fate as The Daily Audiophile when I am no longer able to manage everything (and not for financial reasons, of course).

DISCLAIMER. TNT-Audio is neither a shop, nor a HiFi company or a repair labouratory for HiFi components. We don't sell anything. It is a 100% independent magazine that neither accepts advertising from companies nor requires readers to register or pay for subscriptions. If you wish, you can support our independent reviews via a PayPal donation. After publication of reviews, the authors do not retain samples other than on long-term loan for further evaluation or comparison with later-received gear. Hence, all contents are written free of any “editorial” or “advertising” influence, and all reviews in this publication, positive or negative, reflect the independent opinions of their respective authors. TNT-Audio will publish all manufacturer responses, subject to the reviewer's right to reply in turn.

March 2026 Editorial

More cracks in the HiFi house of cards: Empire Ears goes out of business