Astrotec Phoenix 6 Review – Maturity

Comparisons –

Astrotec Phoenix ($799): The Phoenix is quite a different kind of earphone with a vastly more coloured sound. It has reasonably similar emphases but to a much larger degree making it far more W-shaped. It is considerably less linear but also more vibrant and engaging. The bass exemplifies this, the Phoenix is slower decaying and much richer in its expression with a fuller mid-bass. The Phoenix 6 is considerably cleaner and tighter with a quicker note presentation. The original does have an advantage on texture and dynamics but falls short in other metrics. The Phoenix 6 has much better separation and a more accurate timbre. This rings true in the midrange as well which is less recessed on the Phoenix 6 and lacks the strain of the Phoenix. The Phoneix has a huge lower-mid dip counterbalanced by its big bass. At the same time, clarity is derived from a large 4kHz peak.

This makes it clear, fun and warm but also gives vocals a slightly off voicing with some strain and smallness. The Phoenix 6 sounds far more natural, retaining a good sense of body and improving vastly on timbre and coherence. It has better resolving power simply by virtue of its improved balance. The treble is far crisper and more aggressive on the Phoenix. The 6 is softer but also more linear and extended. The Phoenix has far more crispness around the mid-treble but is also very thin. The Phoenix 6 is more refined with more accurate body, texture, and decay. It has more micro-detail in its top-octave and isn’t as fatiguing. At the same time, it does lack the same bite and crispness which is why I posit that the two earphones would suit different preferences entirely. The Phoenix has a deep stage but the 6 is perceptibly wider with more complex imaging.

Craft Ears AURUM (1295 EUR): The Aurum is a similarly priced and spec-ed model and also has a reasonably similar tuning too. It has a few dB more upper-midrange and also a more typical high-end IEM upper-treble boost. The similarities most apply within the bass which is nigh identical in tonality and level of emphasis but differs notably in note presentation. The Aurum is the slightly pacier and tighter performer, it has slightly higher separation. The Phoenix 6 has better dynamics with greater sub-bass weight and pressurisation, it has the more powerful attack but also a longer-lingering decay that gives the impression of a fuller sound despite similarities in frequency response. The midrange is also similar in both tuning and execution with the Phoenix 6 having 2-3 dB less pinna gain and a more present lower treble in return.

The Aurum sounds clearer and has a more neutral note body with better separation. It has a nice dip for smoothness and intensity above the upper-midrange and lacks intensity in turn. As a result, the two strive for the same goal, the Phoenix being one step more relaxed and coherent, the Aurum subjectively more neutral overall. The Aurum does have an advantage with regards to resolving power in the midrange. Treble is also more aggressive on the Aurum, though its lower-treble is less present, it does have greater upper-treble sparkle and shimmer. In turn, its voicing is thinner and more energetic. The Phoenix 6 has a cleaner background and more contrast but less vibrancy. Where it pulls ahead is with regards to space, stretching wider and deeper. The Aurum meanwhile does offer a sharper sense of direction.

Effect Audio Axiom ($1499): Another fun and bassy in-ear, the Axiom sports a simple BA/DD driver setup and some fun crossover modules – stock modules and Ares II cable used for comparison. The Axiom is bassier, warmer and more V-shaped. It has a bigger and much warmer mid-bass especially. The Phoenix 6 comes across as much cleaner and more separated but at the cost of punch and engagement. The Axiom has a good sense of attack and control, the Phoenix has similar driver control but benefits from its far cleaner tuning giving it a strong technical advantage. The Axiom has a much warmer and more laid-back male vocals. At the same time, its upper midrange showcases sound clarity and transparency. Still, the Phoenix 6 is clearer and cleaner throughout.

It has a more natural voicing and a more accurate tonality. The Axiom is richer and more coloured, suiting listeners wanting this. Despite its colouration, the Axiom has similar resolving power to the Phoenix 6. The treble is slightly crisper and more aggressive on the Axiom, but both have a similar kind of sound with a 5k peak and darker background above. The Phoenix 6 sounds more complex, it has greater fine detail retrieval and a more accurate note body with its more linear tuning. It also extends better above, delivering greater background and micro-detail retrieval. At the same time, the Axiom is more engaging and energetic that some may prefer. The Phoenix 6 also has a larger soundstage and layers better.

Campfire Audio Solaris 2020 ($1499): The Solaris 2020 is a more vibrant and W-shaped monitor. It has a similar amount of bass with a slightly warmer mid-bass and less overt sub-bass boost. Campfire Audio’s ADLC drivers have always delivered great resolution and extension and you can surely hear that here with the Solaris’ more aggressive pressurisation and attack. The Phoenix 6 sounds thicker and more weighted with a more neutral tone. It doesn’t have the same attack but a similarly quick and controlled decay that matches the responsiveness of the Solaris. The Solaris has a slightly more present vocal range with its lower midrange hump. It has greater vocal focus and a light warmth.

The Phoenix 6 sounds more coherent and linear but both have a pleasant, natural voicing overall. The Solaris dopes sound more coloured and less balanced but delivers impressive clarity all the same. Both have similar resolving power. The Solaris 2020 has a considerably more vibrant treble in all regards. It has a crisper, thinner note presentation and far greater shimmer and air. Its BA drivers deliver a more defined leading edge. Though both are similarly detailed, the Solaris 2020 is far more forward in its presentation. The Phoenix 6 enjoys greater linearity, body and texture alongside a darker background. Both are also similarly spacious, the Solaris 2020 having a slight edge on imaging acuity.

Soft Ears RS10 ($2099): The RS10 provides a more revealing, more reference-orientated sound with greater midrange clarity and greater bite in the treble. Though impressive for an all-BA monitor, extension and dynamics cannot match the Phoenix 6 which benefits from less roll-off and a few dB of exta sub-bass emphasis. Both have a flat mid and upper bass forming a neutral tonality. The RS10 is tighter and faster decaying while the Phoenix 6 has a bit more of that DD texture. It delivers greater dynamics with greater pressurisation and a more visceral rumble. The RS10 is more responsive but slightly less authentic sounding. The midrange is more forward and transparent on the RS10. It has a more neutral note body and size in addition to a slight forwardness and intensity in the upper midrange.

The Phoenix 6 is one step more laid-back, lacking this intensity but also the same level of clarity. Instead, it is more coherent with greater density and an uptick of note body. The RS10 has higher resolution here of small details and it layers better. The treble is slightly more linear to my ears on the Phoenix 6, the RS10 having a bit more mid-treble emphasis. This gives the RS10 a more open, higher-clarity sound. It has a lot more bite and aggression in its detail presentation. The Phoenix 6 is just as detailed but delivers sound with a softer quality. It has more accurate note body and texture at the cost of being less defined. Both extend terrifically and resolve micro-detail near the highest level. The Phoenix 6 has an immediately larger soundstage while the RS10 has sharper imaging.

Soft Ears Cerberus ($2099): The Cerberus is theoretically the more obvious competitor to the Phoenix 6 with its similar driver setup. Like the RS10, it does come across as a bit more mid-focused and it has a wider bass emphasis with less sub-bass focus giving it a slightly warmer tonality. The Phoenix 6 is higher-contrast and more engaging with a more rumble-focused low-end, it has more energy and a heartier slam. The Cerberus has a more even-handed sound and a similarly defined note presentation. It is well-controlled and responsive but less dynamic than the more engaging Phoenix 6. The midrange is just slightly more forward on the Cerberus but is presented with almost as much coherence and body.

The Phoenix 6 is more laid-back and has a slightly cleaner tonality that means it is just as clear despite this. The Cerberus sounds a bit more accurate and even while the Phoenix 6 sounds a touch roomier. Both have similar resolving power and presentation; the Cerberus has a slight resolution advantage. Within the treble, both also have a fairly similar level of emphasis and style of emphasis. The Phoenix 6 is a touch more vibrant with a more present lower-treble. It has a slightly more defined leading edge and a slight advantage on raw detail retrieval. The Cerberus has a cleaner background but doesn’t resolve quite as much micro-detail. Both excel with regards to soundstage size and imaging; the Cerberus is just as large but has more accurate imaging and better layering.

Verdict –

I feel as though Astrotec operates in relative obscurity relative to many Chi-Fi companies these days which deeply saddens me as the company has been producing genuinely compelling products for over a decade. Perhaps more so, they have showcased excellent capacity to adapt and innovate with the wants of their consumers throughout. The Phoenix 6 exemplifies this, being one of the most surprising and impressive IEMs I’ve reviewed as of late. The materials and design are stunning as is the cable. From an ergonomic and aesthetic POV, the IEM is fully equipped to tackle the high-end market it’s competing with. What really surprised me, however, was the sound tuning. The Phoenix 6 is a transformative improvement both tonally and technically over its predecessor. The bass performance remains a high point, yet this is now complemented by a far more balanced, honest midrange and treble alongside a standout soundstage making for a far more complete package. Should you find Harman earphones a little too forward, the Phoenix 6 is a highly accomplished and more forgiving alternative without sacrificing an iota of accuracy, transparency or overall balance. I applaud Astrotec for their versatile, beautifully tuned and meticulously constructed flagship that represents a serious contender in the high-end space.

The Phoenix 6 is available from Astrotec (International) for $1559 USD at the time of writing. I am not affiliated with Astrotec and make no earnings from purchases through these links.

Track List – 

Billie Eilish – dont smile at me

Bob Seger – Night Moves

Courtney Barnett – Rae Street

Cream – Wheels of Fire

Dire Straits – Communique

Dirty Loops – Next To You

Eagles – Hotel California

Elton John – Honky Chateau

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

H.E.R – I Used To Know Her

Jasen – BYE

John Mayer – Continuum

Kanye West – Ye

Missy Higgins – The Sound of White

Radiohead – OK Computer

TALA – ain’t leavin` without you

The Beatles – Abbey Road

The weeknd – After Hours

Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride