Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used, though neither ranks well in its class. Used, the Empire Ears Bravado Mk2 is the better pick: it ranks #827 of 971 in-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 2.1/5), against #945 (rated 1.0/5) for the Empire Ears Bravado. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 971 in-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the Truthear Nova instead, ranked #2 at $169.99.
The Empire Ears Bravado Mk2 is the better-sounding option. Bass is lifted about 6.4 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight. The tradeoff: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
Why pick the Empire Ears Bravado: A bass-focused hybrid with a dedicated dynamic subwoofer, for listeners who want a very heavy low end. The catch: Discontinued, replaced by the Bravado MKII, and Empire Ears closed in 2026.
Buy the Empire Ears Bravado Mk2 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, start with the Truthear Nova instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Empire Ears Bravado Mk2 | Empire Ears Bravado | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799 Discontinued | $599 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #827 of 971 in In-Ear Headphones | #945 of 971 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Tribrid | Hybrid |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic, 1 x balanced armature, 2 x electrostatic | 1 x W9 dynamic + 1 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 22 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB/mW | 98 dB SPL at 1 kHz, 1 mW |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 100kHz | 8Hz - 40kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 51 (measured by HypetheSonics, via AutoEQ) | 31 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.30 dB standard deviation | 4.77 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.35 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.37 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+7.2 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Back | - | Closed |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 14, 2026 at 2:38 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Empire Ears Bravado Mk2: $799 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Bass is lifted about 6.4 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight. Lower mids sit within about 1.1 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. It uses 1 x dynamic, 1 x balanced armature, 2 x electrostatic with an easy 4 ohm load.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. A 6.6 dB peak near 9.0 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp. The 6.4 dB bass lift can sound boomy and mask midrange detail. A Harman score of 51 places it in the lower part of the in-ear rankings.
Full Empire Ears Bravado Mk2 review and specifications →
| Released | 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.30 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Tribrid |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic, 1 x balanced armature, 2 x electrostatic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 100kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 51 (measured by HypetheSonics, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+7.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.35 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.7 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -5.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 711 Hz | +4.6 dB | 1.33 |
| Peak | 176 Hz | -3.4 dB | 1.33 |
| Peak | 6,282 Hz | +4.3 dB | 4.55 |
| Peak | 9,166 Hz | +3.3 dB | 2.21 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,530 Hz | -5.4 dB | 4.92 |
| Peak | 63 Hz | +1.2 dB | 2.84 |
| Peak | 1,911 Hz | -1.5 dB | 3.48 |
| Peak | 5,713 Hz | +2.2 dB | 4.05 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Empire Ears Bravado: $599 Discontinued eBay
Pros: A bass-focused hybrid with a dedicated dynamic subwoofer, for listeners who want a very heavy low end.
Cons: Discontinued, replaced by the Bravado MKII, and Empire Ears closed in 2026. A Harman score of 31 and a strongly warm tilt (-2.37) mean bass dominates and treble sounds veiled, with a 4.77 dB spread from the target.
Full Empire Ears Bravado review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.77 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid |
| Drivers | 1 x W9 dynamic + 1 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 40kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 31 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 22 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB SPL at 1 kHz, 1 mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.37 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.9 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -8.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,815 Hz | +6.5 dB | 1.96 |
| Peak | 190 Hz | -4.6 dB | 1.12 |
| Peak | 796 Hz | +3.6 dB | 1.76 |
| Peak | 3,421 Hz | +4.9 dB | 3.99 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 68 Hz | +1.5 dB | 1.77 |
| Peak | 2,080 Hz | -1.4 dB | 2.93 |
| Peak | 5,063 Hz | -3.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 118 Hz | -0.9 dB | 2.34 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples