Review: Effect Audio Axiom – The High Cost of Sustainability

The Axiom do not come with a stock cable, for the sake of the environment.
The Axiom do not come with a stock cable, for the sake of the environment.

We independently review all our recommendations. Purchases made via our links may earn us a commission. Learn more ❯

The Axiom claim to reduce e-waste and do sport an attractive design. Unfortunately, the lack of accessories, poor fit, and sound quality leave much to be desired.

Thank you to Effect Audio for providing the Axiom IEMs and the Cleopatra cable for evaluation as part of the review tour.

Effect Audio, based in Singapore, is mostly known for its cable offerings. Not completely alien to IEMs, the King Arthur Limited Edition IEMs launched a few years ago.

Bottom Line

Effect Audio’s focus on sustainability is laudable and the Axiom are built really well. The sound quality, unfortunately, falls short of expectations. The tuning is too bass focused and lacks the fine refinement expected in a TOTL product. Moreover, competitors offer better sounding and more resolving IEMs at lower prices. Once you factor in the cost of a good cable (in case you don’t own one), the Axiom fall further behind on the price-to-performance ratio. The modular concept is very interesting, but at the moment there is only one additional module available.

What We Like 😍
  • Eco-friendly packaging
  • Good build quality
  • A modular unit system is handy, and can also be used for sound-tuning
  • Bass has good rumble and impact
  • Good imaging and staging
What We Don't Like 🤢
  • Not the most stable fit
  • Mid-bass lacks texture
  • Vocals sound strained
  • Treble timbre has a metallic sheen
  • Incoherent sound, bass driver is noticeably slower than the mids/highs drivers
  • Resolution is below-average for the TOTL range
  • Questionable pricing

Now, Effect Audio is back with the Axiom, a triple-driver hybrid pair of high-end IEMs, priced near USD$1500. Instead of supplying a budget stock cable, Effect Audio decided to remove it entirely from the Axiom package. The idea is that most TOTL-range buyers should already have a collection of cables that they can re-use with the Axiom.

In an effort to promote sustainability, Effect Audio does not supply a stock cable with the Axiom.

This is a radical move in the IEM space but it is an idea that has been peddled by Apple with their exclusion of charging adapters in the box. Whether you interpret this as a move towards sustainability or a company reducing production costs is up to you.

Regardless, the most important thing about IEMs is how they sound, so let’s see if the Axiom are up to the task.

Technical Specifications

Packaging

The Axiom have minimalistic packaging that has multiple layers and appears free from plastic, so bonus points for that sustainable move.

The packaging is minimalistic and contains several layers.
The packaging is minimalistic and contains several layers.

One unique thing about the unboxing experience was the sweet aroma of tea leaves and herbs.

Turns out that there is a tea-bag underneath the IEMs. It’s probably there to absorb moisture, but can apparently be brewed into a cup of tea as well.

No, I didn’t try to drink it.

In the box

  • Effect Audio Axiom IEMs
  • Black module unit
  • 3 pairs of silicone tips
  • Pair of 2-pin terminated modules
  • Screwdriver
  • A tea bag
The supplied accessories are limited by TOTL standards.
The supplied accessories are limited by TOTL standards.

Effect Audio also sent a Cleopatra cable with the review package. This cable is extremely robust and has pure silver plated UP-OCC cores. Each strand is individually enameled, resulting in excellent durability at the cost of some added stiffness.

This is an excellent cable even though the asking price of USD$800 is near the premium segment.

The Cleopatra cable was also sent with the package as one of the recommended cable-pairings.
The Cleopatra cable was also sent with the package as one of the recommended cable-pairings.

Design

The Axiom have a two-piece design with separate modular units that are affixed to the back of the IEMs via a screw.

The modules are the water drop-shaped pieces you see at the bottom of the packaging above and attached to the IEMs in the picture below. They have four contact pins at the back to connect to the internals. You can find some more impressions about the modules in this head-fi thread.

There is only minimal information online regarding modules other than the included “black” unit. Effect Audio mentions a “silver” module, but does not provide a link on their website. More modules are promised, but 6 months after the launch, nothing has materialized.

There is a vent at the base of the connectors and another near the nozzle.

The screw (showing on the left earpiece) can be removed to swap modules.
The screw (showing on the left earpiece) can be removed to swap modules.

Each module houses the crossover circuit, so Effect Audio can alter the tuning by switching the crossover point. The mechanism appears fairly robust and should last.

Cable termination can be changed by swapping modules.
Cable termination can be changed by swapping modules.

The design is very attractive overall, with subtle attention to detail such as the grooved pattern on the nozzle. The backplate has a marble-like finish that is also unique.

Comfort and isolation

Comfort is good but the fit is unstable due to the heavy shells. Isolation is average due to the aforementioned vents.

Internals

The Axiom have a triple-driver setup with two Knowles BA drivers and one 12mm magnesium-dome driver with an LCP surround. The crossover point is set at 4.8kHz by default.

The internals of the Axiom. Source: https://www.effectaudio.com//index.php?route=information/axiom
The internals of the Axiom. Source: https://www.effectaudio.com//index.php?route=information/axiom

The drivers seem to be in a coaxial arrangement, with the Knowles BA inside the nozzle. It appears that the BA driver is a Knowles TWFK-30071 which is a twin-BA and very small in size, making it ideal for nozzle placement.

However, I did not find any dampers in front of the BA nozzle, which are usually put there to tame resonant frequencies.

Effect Audio Axiom Sound

The following sound impressions are formed with Spinfit CP-145 tips, Effect Audio Cleopatra cable, and Questyle CMA Fifteen and iFi xDSD Gryphon as the sources. The stock black module was installed. Test tracks are available on Tidal as a playlist.

The Axiom have a V-shaped tuning with a strong bass emphasis.

Whereas Effect Audio calls this “reference tuning” in their promotional materials, I find the Axiom too focused on bass to be considered “reference” or “neutral’.

Frequency response graph of Effect Audio Axiom, with stock black modules. Measurement conducted on an IEC-711 compliant coupler with Questyle CMA Fifteen as source.
Frequency response graph of Effect Audio Axiom, with stock black modules. Measurement conducted on an IEC-711 compliant coupler with Questyle CMA Fifteen as source.

Bass

The bass hits hard, especially in the sub-bass region. Sub-bass rumble is easily noticeable and sudden bass drops have added physicality.

Sadly, this strong sub-bass emphasis masks the mid-bass textures. Moreover, the bass decay is longer than ideal, which results in further loss of low-level details. American Football’s Where Are We Now showcase this loss of mid-bass texture and lack of bass dexterity.

Midrange

Due to the bass prominence, the lower-mids sound thick and have extra body to them. This thickness is counter-balanced by a prominent upper-mid rise and a noticeable lower-treble peak.

Sadly, due to the bass prominence, vocals often get drowned out in bass-heavy mixes.

Moreover, female vocals and high-pitched choruses sound strained. This is likely due to the hollowness near 1kHz. String instruments lack bite, even though low notes have a strong undertone that can sound grand and atmospheric at times.

Treble

The treble is noticeably peaky around 5kHz and this throws off the timbre of cymbals and hi-hats. There is a metallic sheen to high notes that can get distracting. There was no sibilance, which is a plus.

The upper-treble extension is decent and I can hear resonances up to 13kHz, but their peers perform better in this regard.

The Effect Audio Axiom are priced too high given their technical performance.
The Effect Audio Axiom are priced too high given their technical performance.

Soundstage and imaging

Soundstage width and depth are above average for the price tag, though not class-leading. Imaging is very good, with both cardinal and ordinal placements of instruments being well replicated.

Dynamics and speed

Macrodynamic punch, e.g. sudden bass drops, is well executed. The Axiom sound “physical”, unlike some of their peers. Unfortunately, microdynamics (subtle gradations in volume) were not as evident.

Driver speed is another letdown, where the dynamic driver is noticeably slower in decay than the BA driver. This results in incoherence and can hamper enjoyment in certain tracks.

The iFi xDSD Gryphon paired really well with the Axiom.
The iFi xDSD Gryphon paired really well with the Axiom.

Comparisons

Vs Dunu Zen Pro

The Dunu Zen Pro are priced lower than the Axiom and have a different driver configuration. Nonetheless, they are an interesting alternative to the Axiom as both of these IEMs offer their own version of a “reference” tuning.

The Zen Pro have similarly good build quality but do not look as exotic as the Axiom. Comfort is superior on the Zen Pro, thanks to their slimmer profile and snug fit.

In terms of accessories, Dunu goes the exact opposite route by offering a rich accessory package with an excellent stock cable with swappable terminations. The Zen Pro lack the modularity perks of the Axiom though. You cannot alter the tuning via modules like you can on the Axiom.

As for the sound, the Zen Pro are far more neutral in tone with a forward midrange. The bass quality is excellent, with exceptional bass texture and speed. Axiom falls behind in these factors but if you want a more physical bass slam, then they do that better than the Zen Pro.

I much prefer the midrange on the Zen Pro which have exceptionally articulated lower mids. Upper-mids are devoid of shout and string instruments and percussions sound very natural.

In terms of treble, Zen Pro offer an airier representation with more resolving upper-registers and better timbre.

Soundstage width is better on the Axiom, though depth and height are about on par. Imaging is great on both, but neither have the “holographic” nature that some of their peers can offer. Macrodynamic punch is better on the Axiom whereas the Zen Pro are superior in microdynamics.

To summarize, I prefer the Zen Pro’s tuning and find them more resolving than the Axiom in general. That being said, the bass on the Axiom offers a more exciting presentation in sub-bass-focused tracks.

Dunu's Zen Pro are more resolving than the Axiom and have a more balanced tuning.
Dunu’s Zen Pro are more resolving than the Axiom and have a more balanced tuning.

Where to Buy

Conclusion

Effect Audio’s focus on sustainability is laudable and the Axiom are built really well. The sound quality, unfortunately, falls short of expectations.

The tuning is too bass focused and lacks the fine refinement expected in a TOTL product. Moreover, competitors offer better sounding and more resolving IEMs at lower prices. Once you factor in the cost of a good cable (in case you don’t own one), the Axiom fall further behind on the price-to-performance ratio.

The modular concept is very interesting, but at the moment there is only one additional module available. Moreover, the details are scarce and they are out of stock at the time of this writing.

I hope Effect Audio goes back to the drawing board and offers a module with a more balanced tuning that does not hinder the resolution, or perhaps an update to the existing model is in order.

Leave a Reply