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Tour: Vision Ears PHöNIX and EXT Flagships

Raising the Bar Once Again

October 2021

Vision Ears IEMs Discussed in this Tour can be found here: https://vision-ears.de/

As the host of many Vision Ears tours, I have become accustomed to an extremely high-quality product. In fact, to date, I have yet to hear a single product that comes from Vision Ears that has not been spectacular. What is nice about Vision Ears is that they are a master of all tunings offering a variety of signatures to please almost anyone – all at extreme levels of performance. So with this new dual flagship tour, expectations are high. As you will see in my initial impressions below or later in my full reviews, Vision Ears has done it again.

Vision Ears Tour Kit

We have two tour kits in full retail boxing for our tour:

  • PHöNIX (3.500,- EUR): The PHöNIX has been developed so that you can experience music like never before. It is equipped with 13 balanced armature Drivers. This powerful engine is controlled by a passive 5-way crossover to produce an outstanding sound with staggering precision and clarity.
  • EXT (2.650,- EUR): Listening to the EXT will bring you closer to the true spirit of your sound. The four electrostatic drivers create a wide open landscape of lush details that never feel exaggerated. In combination with a 9.2mm dynamic driver, with loads of power in the very low end and a 6mm driver for the mids, we were able to uncover the uncompromising beauty and greatness of your music.

Vision Ears Tour Kickoff Video

Tour Kit Pictures

Barra’s Quick Initial Impressions

The best part of managing tours is getting to hear all the great gear for myself. Here are some brief impressions from what I have heard so far between the tasks required to set up this tour:

  • PHöNIX (3.500,- EUR): The Phonix has some big shoes to fill following the ERL as its replacement. While I don’t have the ERL in my hands currently, from memory, I can tell you that the Phoenix is very much like the ERL on switch 2 which was most people’s favorite. Now that the ERL is retired, the Phonix is likely to take the ERL’s place as one of our five GOD-Tier CIEMs. We are just waiting for confirmation from our members to ensure this is not just a honeymoon period. However, it is really that good.
  • EXT (2.650,- EUR): To be clear, the VE EXT is not just an upgraded Elysium, it is at a whole new level with a different overall signature. It is now supporting two dynamic drivers which should be of interest to anyone that enjoys full-sized audiophile bass. The best-in-call mids that the Elysium offers are still there, but it is not the focus of the EXT. My full review can be found here: https://audiotiers.com/reviews-vision-ears-ext-taking-the-elysium-to-the-next-level/ 

Vision Ears has outdone themselves again hitting both the EXT and the Phonix out of the park. I cannot wait to hear our member’s thoughts as these go out to tour.

Rules and Responsibilities

Most of our tours are offering 7-day auditions which you are required to ship out to the next participant on day 8. Yes, you pay the shipping to the next participant, but we organize into logistically friendly orders to minimize the shipping expense.

The tour membership rules and responsibilities are described here. The key idea is that we must be communicative to participate and to keep the tour moving and interesting. It is our responsibility to follow these rules and to ensure the ability to ship out on day 8 when our turn is over.

UPDATE 5/26/22:

  • New Member Address Verification: THERE IS NO NEED TO VERIFY ADDRESSES ON ESTABLISHED “US TOURS” or “US TOURS REVIEWER” MEMBERS – ONLY NEW “MEMBERS”. If the participant’s status shows “Member” and is indicated on the participant list, then please wait to ship until I verify the shipping address by responding to the provided address that we are verified and good to go.

Signing up for the Tour

To sign up for the tour, you must be a verified tour member and have joined our new AUDIOTIERs platform. The membership qualifications and requirements are described here if you are not already a member. Whether a HEADFI tour member that needs to transfer their membership to the new platform or you are a new member looking to apply for tour membership, please follow the instructions in the GETTING STARTED box below. We are now accepting applications from both US and Canadian citizens.

Getting
Started

NEW TOUR MEMBERS: 1) Register, 2) Subscribe, 3) Apply, 4) Join Tours

EXISTING HEADFI TOUR MEMBERS: 1) Register, 2) Subscribe, 3) Join Tours

Tour Signups for Verified Members: If you would like to be part of this tour, please feel free to post your request in the comments below.

Reviewers First Tour: This is a REVIEWERS GO FIRST TOUR, so if you would like to skip to the front of the line, please note that you would like to be a full reviewer in the request as in the sample below:

Sample Signup Request: I live in Anthem, AZ and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com. AS A FULL REVIEWER, PLEASE MOVE ME TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE.

Tour Participant Logistics

We are offering 7-days auditions to each participant. This logistics list is updated as I can to show you where we are in the order with each participant bolded to signify that they received the kit. This is where you will find the next two participants to contact when you receive the kit.

Signup Period: During our signup period, we collect the initial participants and provide them with a logistically friendly portion of the tour. This is the lowest cost portion in terms of shipping. Once this closes, we move to the latecomer portion.

Latecomer Period: Latecomers are welcome to the tour on a first-come, first-serve basis. We will continue taking latecomer requests until we run out of participants or the manufacturer asks us to end the tour.

Vision Ears US Tour Logistics

Tour Kit 1:

  1. Barra – Anthem, AZ
  2. REVIEWER: jwilliamhust – Platte City, MO
  3. REVIEWER: android – Lynnwood, WA
  4. REVIEWER: HifiHawaii808 – Honolulu, HI
  5. masahito29 – Wahiawa, HI (member)
  6. blotmouse – Seattle, WA (member)
  7. deepoison – Bothell, WA (member)
  8. eTHE2 – Diamond Bar, CA
  9. wardo783 – Porter Ranch, CA
  10. rwelles – Florence, OR
  11. hypermuteki – Las Vegas, NV
  12. Barra – Anthem, AZ (KIT REFRESH – Dec22)
  13. fiacogarcia – Fort Collins, CO
  14. circa – Denver, CO
  15. kdestremps28 – North Grafton, MA (member)
  16. garney – Melrose, MA (member)
  17. infoseeker – Conton, MI (member)
  18. barra – Anthem, AZ

Tour Kit 2:

  1. Barra – Anthem, AZ
  2. REVIEWER: Wildcatsare1 – Nicholasville, KY
  3. REVIEWER: ike – Elizabethtown, KY
  4. REVIEWER: Solstice15 – Rochester, NY
  5. >>>rantng – Brooklyn, NY
  6. Darkestred – Denville, NJ
  7. tawmizzzz – Somerville, MA
  8. mashuto – Sterling, VA (member)
  9. Towa – Nashville, TN
  10. Blueshound24 – Sioux Falls, SD
  11. kadinh – Amarillo, TX (Shipped K2)
  12. uthood – Dallas, TX (Shipped K1)
  13. barra – Anthem, AZ (KIT REFRESH – Dec22)
  14. guani360 – Little Elm, TX
  15. csglinux – LA, CA
  16. Tybot – Albuquerque, NM
  17. Blueshound24 – Sioux Falls, SD
  18. barra – Anthem, AZ

Canadian Interest

  1. efejoao – Vancouver, BC 
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blotmouse
blotmouse(@blotmouse)
Member
09/27/2021 4:57 pm

Hi there,
I live in Seattle, WA and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com.

blotmouse
blotmouse(@blotmouse)
Member
Reply to  Barra
01/14/2022 3:14 am

Please let me know what needs to be done. I emailed documents 9/25. I can resend if you like? I didn’t see any other correspondences. Cheers!

kadinh
kadinh(@kadinh)
US Tours
09/27/2021 6:59 pm

I live in Amarillo, TX and would like to participate in this tour. I am a verified member.

fiascogarcia
fiascogarcia(@fiascogarcia)
US Tours
09/27/2021 7:27 pm

I live in Fort Collins, CO and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com.

HifiHawaii808
HifiHawaii808(@hifihawaii808)
US Tours Reviewer
Reply to  fiascogarcia
09/27/2021 9:19 pm

deleted

Last edited 1 year ago by HifiHawaii808
Jwilliamhurst
Jwilliamhurst(@jwilliamhurst)
US Tours Reviewer
09/27/2021 9:21 pm

I live in San Francisco, CA. and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com. AS A FULL REVIEWER, PLEASE MOVE ME TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE.

Jwilliamhurst
Jwilliamhurst(@jwilliamhurst)
US Tours Reviewer
Reply to  Jwilliamhurst
12/03/2021 10:12 pm

I have moved to Missouri but still want to be apart of this tour as a reviewer. Who do I need to send my new address to?

HifiHawaii808
HifiHawaii808(@hifihawaii808)
US Tours Reviewer
09/27/2021 9:23 pm

Aloha,
I live in Honolulu, HI and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com.

eTHE2
eTHE2(@ethe2)
Admin
09/27/2021 11:07 pm

Hi there,
I live in Diamond Bar, CA and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com. I am a verified member.

mashuto
mashuto(@mashuto)
Member
09/27/2021 11:49 pm

I live in Sterling, VA and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com.

mashuto
mashuto(@mashuto)
Member
Reply to  Barra
01/14/2022 12:59 am

Thanks! Pretty sure I emailed back in September with the required information. If necessary I can resend. Please let me know. Thanks!

uthood
uthood(@uthood)
US Tours
09/28/2021 12:47 am

I live in Dallas, TX and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com.

Towa
Towa(@towa)
US Tours
09/28/2021 4:47 am

I live in Nashville, TN and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com.

solstice15
solstice15(@solstice15)
US Tours Reviewer
09/28/2021 5:41 pm

I live in Rochester NY and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. AS A FULL REVIEWER, PLEASE MOVE ME TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE.

Last edited 1 year ago by solstice15
tawmizzzz
tawmizzzz(@tawmizzzz)
US Tours
10/01/2021 4:39 pm

I live in Somerville, MA and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com.

circa
circa(@circa)
US Tours
10/02/2021 11:19 pm

I live in Denver, CO and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com.

rantng
rantng(@rantng)
US Tours
10/02/2021 11:45 pm

I live in Brooklyn, NY and would like to participate in this tour. I am a verified member.

masahito29
masahito29(@masahito29)
Member
10/09/2021 10:43 pm

I live in Wahiawa, HI and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com

guani360
guani360(@guani360)
US Tours
10/15/2021 6:40 pm

I live in Little Elm, TX and would like to participate in this tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I am a verified member.

Last edited 1 year ago by guani360
hypermuteki
hypermuteki(@hypermuteki)
US Tours
10/15/2021 7:08 pm

I live in Las Vegas, NV and would like to participate in this tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour.

Darkestred
Darkestred(@darkestred)
US Tours
10/29/2021 6:11 pm

I live in Denville, NJ and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com.

rwelles
rwelles(@rwelles)
Admin
11/08/2021 12:18 am

I live in Florence, OR and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. My required ID is already on file.

ike
ike(@ike)
US Tours Reviewer
11/14/2021 9:16 pm

I live in Elizabethtown, KY and I would like to join the tour. I agree to the terms, I have emailed my required ID.

wardo783
wardo783(@wardo783)
US Tours
11/15/2021 3:22 am

Hi there,
I live in Porter Ranch, CA and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. All previously submitted/verified documentation to billb@audiotiers remains current and active.

antdroid
antdroid(@antdroid)
US Tours Reviewer
11/17/2021 4:32 am

I would like to participate in this tour and live in Lynnwood, WA. I am a verified Reviewer

rwelles
rwelles(@rwelles)
Admin
12/14/2021 8:47 pm

I live in Florence, OR. I have been verified on previous tours.

Blueshound24
Blueshound24(@blueshound24)
US Tours
12/18/2021 3:06 pm

Hi there,
I live in Sioux Falls, SD and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. All my required ID verification documentation has been sent to billb@AudioTiers.com for previous tours.
Thanks for this opportunity!

Last edited 1 year ago by Blueshound24
BobJS1
BobJS1(@bobjs1)
US Tours
12/18/2021 4:13 pm

I live in Dayton, OH and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com.

deepoison
deepoison(@deepoison)
US Tours
12/18/2021 7:12 pm

I live in Bothell, WA and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com

deepoison
deepoison(@deepoison)
US Tours
Reply to  Barra
01/14/2022 1:25 am

Thanks, Status has been verified as of 12/28. Please check.

efejoao
efejoao(@efejoao)
CA Tours
12/27/2021 11:23 pm

Hi there,
I live in Vancouver, BC and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com.

I hope we can enable the Canadian Tour as I am very interested in the EXT (hoping to be my next IEM). Loved the Elysian but the Bass was not there for me.

kdestremps28
kdestremps28(@kdestremps28)
Member
01/26/2022 2:38 pm

I live in North Grafton, MA and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com.

Jwilliamhurst
Jwilliamhurst(@jwilliamhurst)
US Tours Reviewer
01/31/2022 3:05 pm
csglinux
csglinux(@csglinux)
US Tours Reviewer
02/03/2022 5:54 pm

I live in LA, CA and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com. AS A FULL REVIEWER, PLEASE MOVE ME TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE.

HifiHawaii808
HifiHawaii808(@hifihawaii808)
US Tours Reviewer
02/10/2022 9:04 pm

I just received the EXT and Phonix tour kit. They are in good working condition. I will contact @masahito29 and  blotmouse as required by the terms of the tour.

solstice15
solstice15(@solstice15)
US Tours Reviewer
02/12/2022 7:07 pm

Kit 1 seems to be moving along nicely, any news on #2?

HifiHawaii808
HifiHawaii808(@hifihawaii808)
US Tours Reviewer
02/20/2022 3:32 am

Finished my week with the EXT and Phonix. I shipped it off to @masahito29 and provided him with the tracking number. I loved the EXT and will buy it. I like the Phonix, but it overlaps with the Traillii for its use case, so I won’t be adding that to my collection. I actually thought that EXT would be too similar to EVO, but they are very different. More in my review.

masahito29
masahito29(@masahito29)
Member
Reply to  HifiHawaii808
02/25/2022 12:19 am

I just received the EXT and Phonix tour kit from  HifiHawaii808. Everything is in good working condition. I will contact  blotmouse and @deeposion as required by the terms of the tour.

masahito29
masahito29(@masahito29)
Member
Reply to  masahito29
02/28/2022 11:07 pm

Hi US Tour Kit 1,

Please find the photo attached to this post for documentation of a shell issue regarding the left unit on the EXT set. I spoke to  Barra about the concern and decided it would be ok to continue with the tour. If you are awaiting this tour set please take additional caution and contact  Barra if there are any issues.

download (1).jpg
blotmouse
blotmouse(@blotmouse)
Member
Reply to  masahito29
03/14/2022 5:14 pm

Hey all, I just saw this and noticed it while I was packing them up for the next leg of the tour. I obviously did not have any issue using them though while I was oblivious. I will let the next 2 folks know to be gentle just in case.

Garney
Garney(@garney)
Member
03/01/2022 1:14 pm

I live in Melrose, MA and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com. Hope I’m not too late to hop on!

blotmouse
blotmouse(@blotmouse)
Member
03/08/2022 9:03 am

I have received the EXT and Phonix tour kit. They are in good working condition. I will contact  deepoison and @eTHE2 as required by the terms of the tour.

solstice15
solstice15(@solstice15)
US Tours Reviewer
03/11/2022 5:45 pm

Was kit 2 ever shipped out?  Barra

Last edited 1 year ago by solstice15
solstice15
solstice15(@solstice15)
US Tours Reviewer
Reply to  Barra
04/08/2022 12:28 am

 Barra Has  Wildcatsare1 shipped to the next participant yet? Seems kit 2 is MIA

blotmouse
blotmouse(@blotmouse)
Member
03/15/2022 12:45 am

All done. What fun that was. Tour kit en route to  deepoison, and tracking information was provided.

deepoison
deepoison(@deepoison)
US Tours
03/16/2022 12:02 am

I have received the EXT and Phonix tour kit. They are in good working condition. I will contact  eTHE2 and  wardo783 as required by the terms of the tour

Its nearly impossible for me to fit any of the eartips to EXT. Does anyone has a tip?

deepoison
deepoison(@deepoison)
US Tours
03/24/2022 6:52 pm

Shipped out the tour kit to next person inline  eTHE2 .

Thank you very much for arranging this tour. I couldnt have made an informed purchase decisions without this.

eTHE2
eTHE2(@ethe2)
Admin
Reply to  deepoison
03/26/2022 9:27 pm

Thanks all! Tour Kit as arrived safely. Now for the adventure!

ike
ike(@ike)
US Tours Reviewer
03/28/2022 5:15 pm

Any updates on this tour Bill? VE still dragging their feet? I know I’m on the edge of buying these but I have to hear them myself and honestly can’t decide between the Phonix or EXT.

Infoseeker
Infoseeker(@infoseeker)
Member
05/01/2022 6:25 pm

I live in Canton, MI and would like to participate in the tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour. I have emailed my required ID verification documentation to billb@AudioTiers.com.

solstice15
solstice15(@solstice15)
US Tours Reviewer
05/14/2022 9:16 pm

What is the current status of the kits?  ike and  eTHE2

ike
ike(@ike)
US Tours Reviewer
Reply to  solstice15
05/16/2022 8:05 pm

I haven’t received it from Wildcatsare1, I contacted him, he got back to me on 4/27 at which point he said he would ship it on 4/29 and as of now I have received nothing. If he gets it out today or tom I should receive it very soon as we live in the same state. Not sure what’s going on with him but he sent me a long message about personal issues.

ike
ike(@ike)
US Tours Reviewer
Reply to  solstice15
05/16/2022 8:08 pm

I am also wondering as I want to hear these units very badly and have wanted to since they were announced.

ike
ike(@ike)
US Tours Reviewer
Reply to  solstice15
05/17/2022 1:45 am

I actually gave him my address on 4/12.

eTHE2
eTHE2(@ethe2)
Admin
Reply to  solstice15
05/17/2022 5:45 pm

Good afternoon. They have been sent to  wardo783 a few weeks ago.  wardo783 – any updates on current location?

ike
ike(@ike)
US Tours Reviewer
Reply to  solstice15
05/18/2022 2:53 pm

I just head back from him, he said he is shipping today.

ike
ike(@ike)
US Tours Reviewer
05/21/2022 11:21 pm

Tour kit received today but it only contains Phonix not EXT, contacting wildcatsare1 now.

ike
ike(@ike)
US Tours Reviewer
Reply to  Barra
05/24/2022 5:04 pm

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for Kevin.

hypermuteki
hypermuteki(@hypermuteki)
US Tours
Reply to  Barra
07/12/2022 7:55 am

Delete

Last edited 10 months ago by hypermuteki
ike
ike(@ike)
US Tours Reviewer
Reply to  Barra
06/03/2022 10:04 pm

EXT was received today, I will take a few days to evaluate it and then send it on, not the full 7 days.

Tybot
Tybot(@tybot)
US Tours
06/03/2022 8:27 pm

Please sign me up for this tour. Thank you.

solstice15
solstice15(@solstice15)
US Tours Reviewer
06/23/2022 4:26 am

I received tour kit 2 and will get in touch with  rantng for shipping information. The kit only includes 1 cable between two iems, unsure if this is intentional, otherwise everything is in great working order.

rantng
rantng(@rantng)
US Tours
Reply to  solstice15
07/10/2022 3:31 am

Tour kit 2 received from solstice15. Spent a few good minutes looking for the additional cable until I hopped on here and saw his post above; 1 cable for the 2 IEMs. As noted on the included post-it, the cable fits very loosely in the sockets.

rantng
rantng(@rantng)
US Tours
07/27/2022 3:27 am

Heard back from Darkestred. He actually picked up an EXT some months ago and is no longer interested in participating on the tour. Will reach out to the next person on the list.

rantng
rantng(@rantng)
US Tours
Reply to  rantng
08/12/2022 10:38 pm

Are PMs not going through? I just PM’ed  tawmizzzz on head-fi as I haven’t had luck sending PMs on here.

rantng
rantng(@rantng)
US Tours
Reply to  rantng
08/12/2022 11:15 pm

Just heard back from tawmizzzz. He said I should skip him so I will reach out to  mashuto
Please update the tour list

Last edited 9 months ago by rantng
rantng
rantng(@rantng)
US Tours
Reply to  rantng
08/13/2022 2:21 am

mashuto is out as well..  Towa is up next.

Towa
Towa(@towa)
US Tours
Reply to  rantng
08/13/2022 4:23 am

yeah messages are going through, but email notifications for pms for me at least were being identified as spam. Good idea to mention here though as those email notifications were not being flagged and notified me as intended, I otherwise would have never known.

rantng
rantng(@rantng)
US Tours
Reply to  Towa
08/15/2022 8:41 pm

Dropped it off earlier today & it’s on its way to you  Towa
Will PM you tracking info.

rwelles
rwelles(@rwelles)
Admin
08/28/2022 9:57 pm

I currently have Tour Kit #1. *really* enjoying the Phönix!! Best midrange and treble I’ve ever heard from an iem. I find the mid and upper a bit bloated and lacking in sub bass. For my tastes at least.

It will go off to  hypermuteki later this week. Hope he enjoys them as I have!!

BobJS1
BobJS1(@bobjs1)
US Tours
09/02/2022 9:10 pm

Hi, I was just contacted that I will be next up in this tour. I replied that my availability will be spotty through mid October and to skip over me. I’m posting here to advise that I’ll be dropping out of this tour. Thanks everyone.

Bob

Blueshound24
Blueshound24(@blueshound24)
US Tours
09/10/2022 9:47 pm

Received the VE kit the other day from Towa  Towa . As has been mentioned, there is only one cable to share between the two IEM’s, and it fits very loosely in the IEM sockets especially on the right side. With the EXT I noticed the sound rarely cutting out on the right side every now and then. Then I couldn’t get them to replicate the cutting out.
 
Also, regarding the EXT, there is a thin membrane, (dust covers?), covering the openings where sound comes out of the IEM, and that has come off the left IEM leaving the little holes exposed.
 
And, as has been mentioned, with the tips I have, it is extremely hard to place eartips on the larger sized posts on the EXT. Maybe if I could dig out my old UE TF10 tips they may fit better?
 
Otherwise great sounding kit! 
 
Thanks Bill!

Last edited 8 months ago by Blueshound24