The Earacoustic VSA PM Crown came to me as part of a review tour organized by AudioGeek Brotherhood, and from the very beginning, this set felt different. Right from the moment I unboxed it, everything about it screamed premium. The shell design caught my attention instantly, and before I even listened to it, I found myself taking photos instead. That alone says a lot about how striking it looks in hand.
Now coming to the sound, my first raw reaction was simple. This is how a planar should sound. Fast, tight, energetic, wide and brutally revealing when pushed. Previously, I have used and owned multiple planar IEMs including the Letshuoer S12 series, S15, S08 and Campfire Supermoon as well. Yet, the PM Crown managed to climb straight to the top of my list. In fact, it even beats some of the most respected non-planar sets I have tried so far. What makes this set special is how it balances technical capabilities with excitement and engagement. It is unapologetically energetic, very open up top, brutally resolving and still manages to sound fun rather than sterile. With the right source, this IEM becomes an absolute monster for metal, jazz, and even Greek vocal tracks. Over the course of my listening time, it quickly became one of my all-time favorites.
The EarAcoustic VSA PM Crown was provided to me by AudioGeek Brotherhood for the purpose of this review. I wholeheartedly thank @Penon and EarAcoustics for sending this unit for review tour. I did not receive any monetary compensation and all impressions shared here are purely based on my personal listening experience. This review reflects my honest opinions after using the PM Crown across multiple sources, tips, and genres over extended listening sessions. I will also attach a link below to penon’s official website and VSA PM Crown official store page, in case someone wants to purchase a unit for themselves.
Since jumping into the hobby of Hi-Res Audio, I’ve gone down the rabbit hole exploring a variety of budget, mid-range sets and Flagship sets. I don’t listen at loud volumes, and I’m quite sensitive to treble, which is why I usually lean towards warmer sound signatures that let me enjoy long sessions without fatigue. My music taste is all over the place- from different genres to different languages- so I appreciate IEMs that can adapt and still sound musical. While I won’t get deep into technical measurements, I’ll try to keep things clear and relatable, with just enough info to help fellow enthusiasts understand how the IEM actually feels to listen to.
ABOUT THE VSA PM CROWN
The Earacoustic VSA PM Crown is the flagship planar IEM from the brand and is clearly aimed at the high-end segment. The core of the PM Crown is a 11.4 mm Planar Ribbon Diaphragm with a multi-magnet, triple-chamber driver structure. It is currently listed at $849 on Penon’s website. Unlike warm or relaxed tunings, the PM Crown is tuned to showcase what a planar does best, i.e. fast transients, tight bass control, high clarity and a very open top end. The tuning does not try to be safe at all, rather, it is bold, technical and exciting. This is an IEM made for listeners who enjoy transparency, staging, and detail retrieval. Also, metalheads or any instrumental-heavy music enthusiast would love this set from the get-go. In terms of design, the PM Crown doesn’t half-heartedly hide its flagship status. The shells are made from machined aluminium alloy and “jewellery-level” finish. The precise diamond-cut crown-faceplates reflect light sharply which further enhances the premium look and feel of this set. The PM Crown is also built with a semi-custom shell which can universally fit any ear.
- Driver: 11.4mm Planar Magnetic Driver
- Sensitivity: 105dB
- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Shell Material: CNC Machined Aviation-Grade Aluminium Alloy
- Frequency Response: 5-40000Hz
- Cable Length: 1.2m
- Cable Connectors: 2-Pin 0.78mm
- Cable Termination: 4.4mm Non-Swappable
Right from the moment I unboxed VSA PM Crown, it left a very strong first impression. As soon as I lifted the lid, my eyes were blinded by the beauty of those shells and I genuinely paused for a moment before even thinking about listening to them. The design is bold, gritty, unorthodox and completely unapologetic. I know for a fact that a lot of people might call it “gaudy” or over-the-top, but personally, I absolutely loved it. The Crown looks like it has a character of its own, and that too a lot of it.
The shell itself feels insanely well-built. This is one of those IEMs where the build immediately justifies the price. The metal finish feels dense, solid and premium in hand. There is no hollow feeling, creak or even a weak point in the whole shell; everything feels tightly put together. This is exactly how a flagship-level IEM is supposed to feel. Even the smallest details in the shell design look purposeful rather than decorative.
Despite being a full planar IEM, the VSA PM Crown is not stupidly hard to drive, but it absolutely scales with power. You can get sound out of it from weaker sources, but you will only hear what it is truly capable of when you feed it proper power.
1. Quloos MUB1:
- This is hands down one of my favorite pairings with the PM Crown
- The MUB1 brings out a very clean, controlled and spacious presentation
- Bass becomes tighter and more disciplined
- Mids gain clarity without thinning out
- Treble stays energetic but much more composed
- Soundstage opens up nicely
2. Hidizs AP80 Pro Max:
- Another excellent match
- It brings a slightly warmer and smoother character compared to the MUB1
- Bass gains a bit more body
- Harshness in the upper mids completely goes away
- Treble loses some glare but keeps its sparkle
- It keeps the Crown exciting without making it fatiguing
- The M21 drives the PM Crown with ease
- Bass stays fast and controlled
- Mids come through clearly but tend to get sharp/harsh occasionally.
- Treble remains airy but can feel slightly sharp on certain tracks
- This pairing really shows the Crown’s raw character
- This one brings out the most upper-mid and treble energy
- Detail retrieval is a bit better than MUB1
- Treble becomes extremely forward
- Upper mids often turn spicy and fatiguing
- Not suitable for my taste.
5. VE Megatron:
- The Megatron adds noticeable warmth and density
- Sub-bass gets deeper
- Mid-bass gains weight
- Mids sound thicker
- Treble smooths out slightly
- The soundstage is cut down
- This pairing makes the PM Crown feel more musical and fuller
6. Snowsky Echo Mini:
- This was the weakest pairing for me
- The set sounded too bright
- Upper mids became sharp
- Bass lost impact
- It works technically, but it does not match the true tuning
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
Right from the first few minutes of listening, it was clear that the VSA PM Crown is a true planar. This is how a flagship planar set is actually supposed to sound like. It carries all the classic planar traits like speed, clarity, open staging and energy, but it also brings real impact and authority into the mix. The tuning felt instantly exciting, clean and highly resolving. At low volumes it sounded rewarding and as the volume went up, it became even more engaging; but also caused fatigue quickly.
BASS
The PM Crown delivers one of the most satisfying bass responses I have heard from a planar IEM. The sub-bass reaches deep and has solid presence. It is not just fast for the sake of being fast, it actually carries weight when the track demands it. The mid-bass is quick and very thumpy. Kickdrums hit with proper authority and stop instantly without leaving any trail behind. There is no bloat and no bleed into the midrange at all.
On metal, the double kick patterns stay clean and well separated even in fast passages. On jazz, the bass remains textured and controlled without overpowering other instruments. On hip-hop, the PM Crown delivers punch rather than boom, which makes the low end feel tight and disciplined rather than loose. With more power, especially on the MUB1 and AP80 Pro Max, the sub-bass gains better body while still staying clean. This is not a basshead planar set, but it is easily one of the most balanced and impactful planar bass tunings I have personally heard.
MIDS
The midrange on the PM Crown is clear, forward and highly detailed. Vocals come through with strong presence and excellent articulation. The lower mids remain slightly lean, which keeps the presentation clean and avoids any kind of thickness or muddiness. The upper mids, on the other hand, are very energetic and forward. This gives bite to vocals and guitars, but it can also get a little hot at times, especially on bright recordings or at higher volumes.
Greek vocal tracks sound very exposed and detailed, with every nuance in the mix clearly audible. Male vocals feel well defined, while female vocals stand out more with extra energy due to the upper midrange forwardness. On metal tracks, guitars slice through the mix sharply and vocals never get buried. The midrange is not warm or lush by any means. It is more of a clear, open and monitor-like presentation. If you like mids that are dense and thick, this may feel a little dry.
TREBLE
The treble on the PM Crown is very open, airy and sparkly. There is a strong sense of extension and air at the top. Cymbals and hi-hats have good bite and presence without feeling blunt or rolled off. The treble brings a lot of energy into the presentation, which adds to the sense of openness and space.
However, this is also the area where fatigue can creep in for some listeners. At higher volumes or with brighter sources, the treble can become a little sharp. On well-paired sources like the AP80 Pro Max and MUB1, the treble feels controlled and enjoyable with good sparkle and no harshness. On brighter sources, it can lean towards sibilance depending on the track. Still, the extension remains impressive and adds a strong sense of openness to the overall sound.
TECHNICALITIES
- Soundstage: It presents a wide and open stage with very good sense of space. It does not feel closed in at all.
- Imaging: Imaging is highly precise. Instrument placement is easy to follow and remains stable even in busy mixes.
- Separation: Instrument separation is excellent. Even in complex metal tracks, nothing smears into each other.
- Dynamics: Macro and micro-dynamics are both handled very well. Soft passages remain detailed and loud sections hit with authority.
- Timbre: Timbre is mostly natural, but at certain points it can feel slightly artificial.
EQ RESPONSE
The PM Crown responds quite well to EQ, especially in the upper midrange and treble. If you find the upper mids or the treble a little too spicy for your taste, you can easily tame it down with a small cut and the set still remains coherent. The clarity and separation do not collapse after EQ, which is something I really appreciate.
You can also add a light sub-bass boost if you want a little more weight down low, and it still holds up without getting bloated. Overall, this is a planar that takes EQ gracefully. You do not need to EQ it at all, but if you choose to tweak it for personal taste, it allows that freedom without breaking its character.
CONCLUSION
After spending a good amount of time with the VSA PM Crown, I can confidently say this is one of the most impressive planar IEMs I have personally heard. It carries all the true planar traits that people talk about, like speed, clarity, wide soundstage and exceptional top-end energy. But it also brings proper impact and authority in the bass. The tuning works across almost every genre I listen to, but it truly shines with metal, followed closely by jazz and Greek vocal tracks.
The technical performance is top notch. The soundstage is wide, imaging is precise, separation is excellent, the mids are clear and forward, the treble is airy and energetic, and the bass is fast, tight as well as authoritative. Yes, the upper mids and treble can feel a little harsh and fatiguing on certain sources or at higher volumes, but that is also part of what gives this set its excitement and bite.
For me, this has easily become my favourite planar set till date. It beats every planar set I have ever tried. I would blindly recommend you this IEM if you like resolving and open-sounding sets. The VSA PM Crown fully lives up to its name and it truly earns the Crown.