Compared to AME Gaia (Review link)
AME Gaia is a twin flagship that goes along with Raven to serve a different sound taste through a different driver combination. While Raven is a hybrid IEM using 8BA+4EST (still surprising me considering how fine it performs..), Gaia is a tribrid that also sports a dynamic driver, using 1DD+6BA+4EST.
They are quite similar in overall sound signature and characteristics but still have noticeable differences that I could fetch right away. When it comes to performances, these are basically on the exact same level and would only be a matter of taste differences.
The major differences are the vocals and the mid-range presence. The overall sound signature is flatter, having the vocals slimmer in the body (yet still generous density and thickness), being the perfect example of having neutral-thickness vocals.
The vocals also sound more “distanced” but it doesn’t feel like a recession but instead stepping slightly away from the face – to create a very leveled sound dynamics throughout the spectrum. In contrast, Raven has thicker, more up-close vocals that take up significantly more space of the overall sound and headroom, having a more vocal-centered sound while Gaia treats all three frequency ranges more evenly.
If you want cleaner, more evenly-flowing vocals and prefer the vocals to keep a calmer attitude in approach, or simply a reference-monitor style IEM, Gaia would be a better option. On the other hand, if you’d like an impactful, stronger W-shaped sound with overall thicker vocals. In conclusion, while both are musical and analytical, Gaia tilts slightly more towards being analytical and reference, and Raven goes more for musicality and dynamics.
Compared to Canpur CP622B (Review coming soon)
Canpur CP622B is a tight competitor of Raven, and personally describing the differences between these two IEMs is difficult – not because the differences are minimal or irrelevant but because the noticeable differences are intricate to explain, as it’s more about the way how these two IEMs deliver the sound to your ears.
Raven takes a more straight approach for the mid-highs, giving a better sense of agility and penetration in resolution. On the other hand, CP622B’s mid-highs (and even bass) involve more air and flowingness to the sound, giving more sideway expansion and room. This also means CP622B highlights more spatial or a stronger 3D-ish presentation. Of course, CP622B isn’t noticeably inferior in agility or sound penetration, yet it has a more easygoing and gentler nuance. The vocals have almost the same brightness and tone but with an airier and creamier timbre.
The next noticeable difference is the bass. Don’t get me wrong though – Raven doesn’t fall short in bass response to CP622B which surprises me once again as Raven only uses BA and EST drivers, yet CP622B also uses 2 bone conductor drivers which aren’t meant for the lows but the mid-highs. When it comes to extension (at least to the audible range), Raven ultra-lows perform just as great as CP622B; clean resolution, detailed texture, pronounced basslines, etc. However, the differences are made in the characteristics of the bass.
Raven’s lows are more straightforward, in the sense that the bass rumbles focus more on clarity and cleanliness, whereas CP622B’s bass response highlights more of the vibration and breathable/lively of the bass reproduction. The CP622B’s bass texture feels creamier and smoother.
I’m using a lot of emotional expressions than usual, yet that’s how the differences are – and hence the preamble talking about the differences between these two IEMs being mysteriously vague despite the sound signature being overall very similar.
A Raven Scavenging on Your Audiophile Boredom…
With great power comes great possibility they said, and AME Raven is an endgame IEM with a flagship price tag that comes with an artfully built earpiece and sound, that satisfies in both visual and aural aspects. Raven beautifully yet vividly highlights the liveliness and dynamics of the music while not making the sound bombastic or overdone, and keeping perfect control throughout the spectrum – in both quantity and tone.
Raven is one of those rare IEMs even within the flagship tier, that is capable of satisfying both bassheads and those that aren’t. Expansive, agile, and impactful musicality paired with the perfect “peace treaty” or balance made between the low-mid-high is what makes Raven a masterpiece that won’t fade away by time, even after when many future flagships appear, making this a timeless product built like an art piece, sounds like an art piece.
If you’re looking for an easy endgame IEM that is hard to go wrong regardless of your taste, or would like to get those with both musicality and analyticity, AME Raven should be the one you must consider.
