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:
- Barra – Anthem, AZ
- REVIEWER: jwilliamhust – Platte City, MO
- REVIEWER: android – Lynnwood, WA
- REVIEWER: HifiHawaii808 – Honolulu, HI
- masahito29 – Wahiawa, HI (member)
- blotmouse – Seattle, WA (member)
- deepoison – Bothell, WA (member)
- eTHE2 – Diamond Bar, CA
- wardo783 – Porter Ranch, CA
- rwelles – Florence, OR
- hypermuteki – Las Vegas, NV
- Barra – Anthem, AZ (KIT REFRESH – Dec22)
- fiacogarcia – Fort Collins, CO
- circa – Denver, CO
- kdestremps28 – North Grafton, MA (member)
- garney – Melrose, MA (member)
- infoseeker – Conton, MI (member)
- barra – Anthem, AZ
Tour Kit 2:
- Barra – Anthem, AZ
- REVIEWER: Wildcatsare1 – Nicholasville, KY
- REVIEWER: ike – Elizabethtown, KY
- REVIEWER: Solstice15 – Rochester, NY
- >>>rantng – Brooklyn, NY
- Darkestred – Denville, NJ
- tawmizzzz – Somerville, MA
- mashuto – Sterling, VA (member)
- Towa – Nashville, TN
- Blueshound24 – Sioux Falls, SD
- kadinh – Amarillo, TX (Shipped K2)
- uthood – Dallas, TX (Shipped K1)
- barra – Anthem, AZ (KIT REFRESH – Dec22)
- guani360 – Little Elm, TX
- csglinux – LA, CA
- Tybot – Albuquerque, NM
- Blueshound24 – Sioux Falls, SD
- barra – Anthem, AZ
Canadian Interest
- efejoao – Vancouver, BC
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.
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.
Added, need to confirm verification and update status.
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!
I live in Amarillo, TX and would like to participate in this tour. I am a verified member.
added
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.
deleted
added
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.
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?
For now, please reach out to me at my billb@cleardiff.com email. The audiotiers email currently seems to be blocked until I can get me hosting company to fix it.
Added, shipping tomorrow.
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.
Added
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.
added
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.
Added, need to confirm verification and update status.
Thanks! Pretty sure I emailed back in September with the required information. If necessary I can resend. Please let me know. Thanks!
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.
added
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.
added
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.
added, updated to reviewer
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.
added
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.
added
I live in Brooklyn, NY and would like to participate in this tour. I am a verified member.
added
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
added, need to verify and update status.
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.
added
I live in Las Vegas, NV and would like to participate in this tour. I agree to follow the terms of the tour.
added
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.
added
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.
added
I live in Elizabethtown, KY and I would like to join the tour. I agree to the terms, I have emailed my required ID.
added
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.
added
I would like to participate in this tour and live in Lynnwood, WA. I am a verified Reviewer
added
I live in Florence, OR. I have been verified on previous tours.
added from above
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!
added
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.
added
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
added, need to check verification and update status.
Thanks, Status has been verified as of 12/28. Please check.
You are correct, updated your status.
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.
Not sure if we are doing a Canadian tour, but the good news is that VE was our only successful Canadian tour so it is possible if we can get over ten Canadian’s interested. Added to interest list.
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.
added as member, need to verify to update to US Tours before you can receive.
EXT Review posted to head fi
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/vision-ears-ext-new-premium-line-flagship-iem.25547/reviews#review-27835
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.
added, but the tour is already in motion so I cannot do the front of the line, sorry.
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.
Kit 1 seems to be moving along nicely, any news on #2?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
added as member while I verify. Sorry I am slow.
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.
Was kit 2 ever shipped out?
Barra
Yes, they are with
Wildcatsare1 @Wildcatsare1, He should be shipping to the next participant this week.
Just talked to him, he is shipping out in the morning. Sorry for the delay.
All done. What fun that was. Tour kit en route to
deepoison, and tracking information was provided.
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?
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.
Thanks all! Tour Kit as arrived safely. Now for the adventure!
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.
Check the comments above, the tour is in full swing. These are both top-class IEMs, you cannot go wrong with either, however, they are very different signatures where you could own both. 😉
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.
added as member while I verify, sorry I am slow.
What is the current status of the kits?
ike and
eTHE2
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.
I am also wondering as I want to hear these units very badly and have wanted to since they were announced.
I actually gave him my address on 4/12.
Good afternoon. They have been sent to
wardo783 a few weeks ago.
wardo783 – any updates on current location?
I just head back from him, he said he is shipping today.
Tour kit received today but it only contains Phonix not EXT, contacting wildcatsare1 now.
UPDATE on KIT2: Hey Guys, sorry about the delay on kit 2. I have been talking to wildcatsare1 (Kevin) and have an update for you.
Some history, Kevin has family in Ukraine and has been working feverishly in getting them out of the war zone to safety and ultimately to his home in the US. They have been devastated and left everything behind and are now refugees in Poland in desperate need of a visa to get to the US. He has had to drop everything since the war had begun and has been run in circles by the state department to get to where they are today with much more to go.
Unfortunately, this has been complicated by a car that hit his from behind sending him to the hospital with serious head injuries. The EXT was in his carry bag at the time of the accident and is in a pile of personal belongings that he has not been well enough to go through. He had his wife ship the easily accessible Phonix so that IKE had something to review while recovering the EXT and shipping later. We are hoping that he will ship the EXT by Wednesday if all goes well.
Please say a prayer for Kevin’s family as they are in need of some help.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery for Kevin.
Delete
Heard from Kevin yesterday that the EXT was located and will be shipped out on Friday. However, it will be in Ike’s hands by early next week. Now we have a full kit and are back in action…sorry for the slow start.
EXT was received today, I will take a few days to evaluate it and then send it on, not the full 7 days.
UPDATE 5/26/22:
Please sign me up for this tour. Thank you.
added
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.
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.
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.
Are PMs not going through? I just PM’ed
tawmizzzz on head-fi as I haven’t had luck sending PMs on here.
Just heard back from tawmizzzz. He said I should skip him so I will reach out to
mashuto
Please update the tour list
mashuto is out as well..
Towa is up next.
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.
Dropped it off earlier today & it’s on its way to you
Towa
Will PM you tracking info.
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!!
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
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!