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Intro
These are my first impressions of the Grand Oriveti Supremacy high-end IEM preceding a full review. The Supremacy has a 4-way crossover design with dynamic, BA and EST drivers. Spoiler: It sounds fantastic, is stunningly beautiful and is one of the most comfortable IEMs I have tried so far! A full „FOTM“ feature will follow.
Of course, Grand Oriveti is not a new company. Grand Oriveti is a brand linked to the non-grand Oriveti which I have featured previously. Think of Grand Oriveti as the Lexus to Toyota. You can be sure the base has great quality but also paying more will get you more, without paying the name tax you will find on a Porsche. And at 1.999 $ you are getting the absolute high-end package! A nice detail that I want to point out is the logo that is based on the O from Oriveti but overlays a G for Grand.
Driver Configuration
The DD+BA+EST configuration came about a few years ago. I had already become bored by the tribrid configuration, especially in flagship designs. You might have noticed I did not review the Softears Cerberus. I just didn’t like it. Just like all of the similar designs, it sounds too warm for me. The new Enigma fixes the issues I had with Cerberus but the treble is still recessed. Also, the Supremacy is a warm-sounding IEM, however, the coherency and warm tilt are extremely well executed to the point that it is possibly the most natural-sounding IEM with EST drivers so far. The full configuration is 1DD+2BA+2BA+4EST for a total of 9 drivers per side.
Click here to visit the official product page of the Grand Oriveti Supremacy
First Impressions
I have to apologize! I owe you photos from the packaging and unboxing experience which I promise to share later. Oriveti had me tricked for a second as I thought the box contained a nice bottle of aged Scotch. When I read “9 drivers” instead of “9 years”, it finally clicked. Out of the box comes the nicest real leather case to ever store your four favourite IEMs! Of course, you only get one pair with the Grand Oriveti Supremacy, the other three spaces are occupied by the cable, a smaller leather case, and ear tips. But after the unboxing, I think the case is best used to store IEMs or even watches – whichever is more expensive.
The Supremacy shells are resin-coated wood with gold accents. Oh wow, have you ever seen more classy IEMs? Especially with the matching Grand Affinity cable, I just want to grab a 16 year old bottle of scotch every time I wear them. I generally love the techy design of some metal builds, but for comfort, the resin is by far superior! And also the shape is the most ergonomic that I have yet experienced. Grand Oriveti includes a big selection of ear tips and also partnered with Azla to include some of the best tips in the business. Do note that the treble response varies greatly with the use of different tips.
Sound
It’s no coincidence that the Grand Oriveti Supremacy uses warm colours and materials that are soft to the touch. It complements the tuning which is warm-sounding with a rich midrange and smooth treble. Vocals are placed in the centre but with a few steps away from the listener. This helps to create good depth. The bass curve is excellent and in line with a loudness correction that I find very suitable for IEM. Pop and Rock, especially, thrive from this tuning. Also, the Metal albums I usually avoid listening to on neutral gear come to life on the Supremacy and sound the best I have heard from an IEM yet. For piano solos I do notice the warmth most, but at no point was I distracted by the tuning enough to not enjoy the music – and that is something many high-end detail monsters sometimes forget to accomplish.
You will find the raw frequency measurements of the Supremacy and over 100 other IEMs here.
The sound characteristic of the Supremacy is generally soft and relaxed, but not to the point that it won’t flex and show its technical prowess. The bass can punch fast and hard, but also show nuances in the texture. The mids, lush and voluminous, preserve microscopic details that bring voices to life. The EST-implementation in the treble is well done, sounding crisp yet never harsh or piercing. With the Supremacy, it’s always music first, details second!
Preview
As you can tell, the Supremacy has quickly become one of my favorite IEMs. Probably, I’ve been subconsciously manipulated by the beauty of the product, the excellent comfort, and the best accessory package the market has yet seen. If that’s so, that is okay. It’s part of the experience and Grand Oriveti just pulls you into the music and invites you to jump on your comfy chair to forget about everything except the music! Regardless, I also trust myself that I can assess the technical performance and the Supremacy does not disappoint. It delivers on warmth, musicality, soundstage and detail. I owe it a full review down the line.
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