Astrotec Archimedes – a HiFi earphone named after the ancient Greek scientist – has caused quite a stir among audiophiles with its dual-driver architecture combining the planar diaphragm and PZT ceramic technology.

$180 – Check latest price on AliExpress

Design & Cable & Accessories

The appearance of Astrotec Archimedes is very recognizable, with an aluminum alloy CNC cavity and a stainless steel panel inlaid on the outside – the overall workmanship is exquisite. Users with medium (large) ears do not have to worry about stability and comfort, as it is relatively firm and fits well.

The earphone adopt a detachable cable design, a standard among many high-end models. They come with a 1.2-meter high-purity silver-plated copper cable and a 0.78mm 2-pin interchangeable connector.

Accessories include: 3.5mm/4.4mm plugs, storage case, 6 pairs of eartips and a cleaning brush. The interchangeable plug system has a 4PIN structure with a screw lock.

Acoustic Configuration & Driving

The Astrotec Archimedes houses a planar magnetic driver and a piezoelectric ceramic driver. The planar driver measures 14.8mm in diameter with a 2μm-thin diaphragm, supported by 14 high-flux magnets. Additionally, a 9-ply PZT piezoelectric ceramic is fixed to the backplate.

With an impedance of 16Ω and a sensitivity of 106dB/mW, the Archimedes is not easy to drive. The presence of the piezoelectric ceramic becomes more noticeable under higher power output.

Sound Description of Astrotec Archimedes

Bass: The quantity is moderate, and the thickness and fullness are not high. The bass extension and elasticity are excellent. The retraction speed is slightly faster, and not much reverberation is retained.

Mids: Vocals are positioned at a moderate distance, and the clarity of the mouth shape is high. The vocal is warm, and the dental consonant is clear but not harsh. The tendency between male and female voices is not obvious, which is suitable for those who do not pursue the thickness of the sound too much. The graininess is polished, and the smoothness is relatively high. The vocal is more transparent, and the brightness is slightly increased.

Treble: The resolution is outstanding, delicate and not irritating, and the string overtones and female voices are excellent. When listening to some string music, the details of each note can be clearly felt. The transient response is also good, not dragging. The ductility of the sub-treble is good, and the roll-off is not too early or too fast.

Instruments: Most instruments are able to take into account the expression of texture and lines. The violins, violas, and guitars may sound slightly thin. The woodwind instruments have a good airiness and average naturalness. The midrange instruments have clear imaging and a very good transition with the treble.

Soundstage: The soundstage has a good sense of scale, which is wide horizontally and has a certain depth vertically. The separation between vocals and instruments is very good – when listening to symphonies, the positions of different instruments can be clearly distinguished.

Conclusion

With its innovative technology and competitive pricing, the Astrotec Archimedes aims to set a new benchmark for planar IEMs under $200. Its technical complexity and tuning may have certain requirements for front-end device, and is suitable for listening scenarios that pursue high resolution and mid-high performance.

• $180 – Check latest price on AliExpress