Whether it’s the latest ‘Pro’ iPhone or a top of the line graphics card, or just getting a hold of an Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, some people simply want the best, and most powerful, version of whatever they desire. In the realms of gaming headsets, Audeze are already amongst the top-tier audio specialists in the world, with their planar magnetic headphones like the LCD-5 and gaming-specific offerings like the Audeze Penrose offering an incredible level of audio detail and definition. Now they’re going further into your ears with the Audeze Euclid, a pair of wired planar magnetic earbuds that offer the highest dynamic range of any in-ear in this bracket.
Sound great, so what’s the catch? Well, they retail for $1299/£1249 – Remember when I said some people simply want the best?
It’s fair to say that the premium experience begins with the Audeze Euclid’s packaging. Tucked away in foam housing within a carabiner-toting Perspex case, the Euclid ensures that you know they’re not like other earbuds. The body of the buds themselves arrive detached from the cable, and you have the slightly fiddly task of attaching the correct bud to the correct gold-plated MMCX connector – red for right, blue for left – before you can continue, but that’s sure to appeal to audiophiles.
The body of each of the earbuds is precision milled from aluminium, and there’s no hint of a seam or any roughness to the cool inner surface. The outer face showcases the Audeze logo on a reflective carbon plane, while a gold ring circles the whole unit, adding to the image of understated quality. They’re a great-looking pair of earbuds, and they feel exceptionally robust and well made in your hand.
The coated braided cable is firm but flexible and terminates in a gold-plated 3.5mm connector. You can attach the Euclid to almost anything you want, but that would be missing the point, and to get the best of the Euclid you’re going to be wanting a DAC and high-resolution audio to pump through it.
Fit is important with in-ear monitors, and Audeze has made sure you’re well served in finding the right eartip, including both foam and silicone tips in a variety of sizes. It’s worth experimenting here as the Euclid are an unusual set for fitting correctly. You want to rotate the body of the earbud into your ear canal, with the cabling guided over the top and around the back of your ear.
I found the included Comply foam tips offered the best audio response, and an excellent level of passive noise cancellation as well – perfect if you’re in a noisier environment. I’m not always sold on cabling that’s routed over the top of your ear, but the Euclid fit so well that I soon forgot they were there.
Using a Soundblaster X G6 as an intermediary, the first step was finding the right lossless audio – a much easier prospect than it used to be, with most of the streaming services now offering some level of lossless audio. I settled on Apple Music, though I’ve had an excellent time with both Tidal and Amazon Music in the past. I aimed to listen to a range of different music beyond my regular intake of metalcore, grunge and synthwave, and the Euclid proved beyond capable of bringing out the detail and nuance of any genre.
I still started with the new Architects’ output, and the buzzing guitar riffs of ‘When We Were Young’ sounded meaty and contained without any hint of extra distortion. The watchword here is ‘detail’. Stopping in with Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’ helped emphasise the enjoyably wide soundstage that the Euclid manages despite its diminutive form factor and closed-back design. Stevie Nicks’ vocals have so much room to breathe you can almost believe she’s in the room with you.
After its recent release I also had to check out OFK’s debut EP ‘We Are OFK’ and the Euclid didn’t disappoint, with the electronic grind of ‘Infuriata’ showcasing the headset’s ability to produce full-bodied, rounded bass tones without any unnecessary excess. There’s the sensation that these tracks sound exactly as the artist and their engineers intended, and you’ll find yourself lost in exploration of your music catalogue as you discover just how good your favourite songs sound.
It’s fair to assume that Audeze will be hoping to capture a few new converts to their brand with the Euclid. While the vast majority will balk at the price tag, these earbuds are priced competitively enough for with other top-end audiophile gear. The attractive design, carry case and carry bag also show that they want to take these out and about with you. It’s worth noting that I had a great time with them hooked up to my iPhone 12 Pro Max and a portable DAC while travelling, and they allowed me to continue enjoying my music while away from home without filling my rucksack or annoying anyone with my open-back headphones.
That 3.5mm connection and low 12 ohms impedance really does mean you can use them with anything, from PS5 and Xbox Series X to the Nintendo Switch. As a luxury option that covers you for everything you’re doing they’re incredible. Gaming on the go with the Audeze Euclid is a phenomenal experience, as you’re able to pick out details that you’d likely never have heard otherwise, bringing new life to already-outstanding soundtracks like Ori and the Will of the Wisps or Final Fantasy XV. Thanks to console-side positional audio, a spot of Overwatch meant that I could pick out the footsteps of advancing enemies with ease, and the same was true in a few rounds of PUBG, giving my slowing reactions a bit of an aural leg up. A recent trip with a Steam Deck in tow has seen the Euclid become a beloved companion where they’ve barely been out of my ears.
