Symphonium Crimson VS Symphonium Audio Helios SE

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Symphonium Crimson lands with a bang: a four–BA, four-way crossover design that somehow delivers epic energy without a dynamic driver. Tonality reads neutral-bright with thunderous sub-bass—not a basshead hump, but a slab of solid, deep extension that stays clean. Mids stay clear for vocals and strings, treble rises for sparkle and excitement, and the presentation spreads out like pulled-apart audio “shreds” across a big canvas. The effect is clarity, detail, and slam that feel bigger than the driver count suggests, making music and film scores straight-up addictive.

Technical notes matter here. Nominal impedance is a weirdly low ~6Ω, so source pairing can swing results; the set scales and sounds happiest on robust gear that can keep low-impedance loads stable. Despite the armature array, coherency stays intact, dynamics hit harder than expected, and volume headroom invites goosebumps. It’s not a “bass monster,” yet the sub-bass authority and lively treble make it exciting rather than polite, with imaging that feels wide and tactile.

Ergonomics are the gripe list: the short nozzle can challenge seal and the premium cable lacks a formed ear hook, encouraging twist and loosening—tip rolling (even reversed-orientation tricks) helps. Build is flashy—carbon-fiber shell, red inlays, metal case that’s too hefty for travel. Pricing sits around $1,500 (or $1,700 with 8-wire cable); for sheer fun, impact, and best-in-brand performance, the value argument holds. For all-day softness, something like Twilight stays comfier; for movies, big scores, and “wow” sessions, Crimson feels like a must-grab and arguably the best Symphonium to date.

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Limited to 50 units and co-signed with Elise Audio, Helios SE shows up as a 4BA oddball with a vibe: ultra-relaxed, non-aggressive, almost like every track sits one gain click lower than expected. Vocals sit nicely centered, instruments hang back, and stage/separation can flip between muted and “whoa” micro-split moments. Tip rolling swings the personality hard—silicons keep it chill, foam-style tips shove vocals forward and magnify the weirdness; think “interesting” more than “reference.” It’s an experience-first tuning that doesn’t try to punch for attention and can feel almost too polite on energetic songs.

Build is simple, soft cable, occasional twist mismatch, and some units in 3.5 mm that don’t scream “kilobuck.” The pitch here is rarity and flavor: graph glued to the box means nothing about how it actually feels—this is human-ear stuff, not squiggle worship. As a collection piece for lovers of unusual BA staging and “just chill” listening, it charms; as a $1k+ value play, not so much. The verdict: likeable around $500–$600 on novelty and tuning alone, but at four-figure pricing it’s more “own something rare and weird” than a slam-dunk daily driver.

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Symphonium Audio’s collaboration with Elise Audio turns the original Helios into a more wearable Helios SE without rewriting its sonics. The shell is smaller, cleaner-looking, and finished in teal, moving from “bulky and awkward” to a still medium-large but more secure fit. It remains unvented, so insertion technique matters, and fit security is improved rather than perfect. Accessories include a metal puck case, cleaning tool, and even a per-unit frequency response slip; the thin stock cable behaves well (4.4 mm on the loaner, 2-pin without earhooks). Power needs are modestly higher than average for an IEM but nowhere near full-size headphones. Only 50 units are being made at roughly $1,200.

The tuning mirrors the OG: a lean, bright-neutral balance with a midrange-forward center, very extended treble, and a sub-bass boost atop lean mid-bass/lower mids. Vocals pop with clarity and texture, and the treble is unusually incisive yet smooth, contributing to a stage that’s wide for the price. Despite using only four balanced armatures, sub-bass notes hit with convincing physicality—surprisingly close to a DD—when the track has true low-end content. The flip side: kick-drum-centric or classic-rock mixes can feel dry, the stage depth varies with bass content, and ride cymbals trade some metallic “ping” for a slightly swishy decay.

Versus peers, 64 Audio’s U4s reads as bassy-neutral with thicker mids and the most inherently tactile bass (it’s a DD, after all), while 7th Acoustics’ Supernova sits closer to neutral with fuller lower mids, sharper imaging, and a vented shell that locks in securely. Helios SE’s value is crystal-clear: keep the Helios’ stellar treble performance and wide headstage, fix the ergonomics, and leave the core tonality intact. It’s a set to respect more than love for those craving warmth, but for enthusiasts chasing clean, airy resolution and vocal focus, it’s a confident 4/5.