YUIN OK1. New Canal phone/earbud.

[rodaballo]

Thanks to Fang from Head-direct I have been able to try the new Yuin OK1.

I have to say OMG...

I am testing them with an iMod and a Diablo, a GoVibe7 and a PRII MkII.

It is important to emphasize that these are not IEMs they sit in your ear but they are not inserted inside the ear canal as the Etys.

People MUST understand that these are not IEMs. They do not provide you with almost complete isolation such as the Etys will give you.

These sound like headphones but without the bulk. The separation of instruments, detail and soundstage is amazing.

I have compared the OK1s with the PK1s and the OK1s have more detail and power than the PK1s.

The bass is also more powerful. Robust.

The highs and mids are astounding.

The PK1s are wonderful phones but the OK1s are better. The sounder is a little bit more solid (if that is possible).

They have more power, detail and space than the PK1s.

The fact that you can use them as a canal phone and as an earbud adds diversity to them.

I am really impressed.

To be used as a canal phone there is a little tube that can be easily screwed in the center of the ear bud. There are several sleeves to be tried in order to get the best fit in your ear drum.

Fang has told me that there is another tube a little bit longer, that he will send me, that provides a better fit and with which the highs are even more detailed.

As a canal the music is powerful as an earbud it is a little more delicate than when used as canal.

May be as a canal they are good for rock or pop and as an earbud for jazz, classical music.

At this moment I prefer them as a earbuds but I will have to try the other tube.

Yes, before you ask, I have compared them with the Etys E4R/P and the Shures e500.

Forget those. These OK1 sound better, to my ears, and fit better.

Fang wrote me that the expected price would be 250 USD.

I will try the OK1s in an airplane trip on Monday and Tuesday and get back to you with my impressions.

Some pictures...

These are the OK1s with and without the tube that converts them in canal phones.







This is a comparisson with the Yuin PK1s.

[Tech2]

Impedance?

[FrederikS|TPU]

Most likely 150 Ohms.

[tstarn06]

Having compared the OK3s to the PK3s and coming to a similar conclusion, seems like the OK3s will cost around 80 USD. That's quite a bump from the PK line, but in the case of the OK3s, worth the extra $30. However, as I said in my review, I can't recommend the OK3s as a canalphone with the original screw-on sound tube. Also waiting to get the longer tube as a comparison. For anyone interested, the OK3 review is here.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/3917797-post17.html

[ben7337]

thanks for the pics I was wondering what the OK series looked like without the tips on and if they had something sticking out to hold the tips on or not. Now I know that they really are just earbuds that have the option to be poor isolation canalphones.

[rodaballo]

Not that poor. I can use them and not listen to the TV while my younger daughter is watching. Kids ussually watch TV with relatively high audio levels...

So it does not give you the level of isolation that an IEM gives you but that can be also useful.

By the way the may not look fancy but, to my ears, they sound better than the two IEMs that I have tested so far (e500 and Ety 4R/P).

I am really interested in testing them in the airplane. I will do it on Monday and Tuesday and get back to you.

Regards

[dap_pad]

That's great!!! I'm already saving up for the OK1s Can't wait until they're released, so I won't miss my PK1s anymore I don't need the canalphone part, I just need the overall small formfactor so the bad isolation isn't a negative for me. The price is higher than I expected but still not going to stop me from buying them

[Philimon]

These look like they will be my next upgrade in my headphone collection.
Is the OK line going to replace the PK line? Since the OKs seem to have better SQ and are also earbud/canal type phones versus the PK which is only an earbud, what appeal will there be left for the PK series?

[kokohore]

Thanks for the impressions.
Is their sound signature similar to PK1? How is their sensitivity? (they need to be amped, right?)

[tstarn06]

Originally Posted by rodaballo

Not that poor. I can use them and not listen to the TV while my younger daughter is watching. Kids ussually watch TV with relatively high audio levels...

So it does not give you the level of isolation that an IEM gives you but that can be also useful.

By the way the may not look fancy but, to my ears, they sound better than the two IEMs that I have tested so far (e500 and Ety 4R/P).

I am really interested in testing them in the airplane. I will do it on Monday and Tuesday and get back to you.

Regards

I wouldn't say they are poor as canalphones (OK3s, that is), but didn't you feel that the canalphone version seemed more veiled due to the fact that you couldn't get a proper seal. Maybe it's a case of ear differences, but not sure.

Someone else reviewed the OK3s and found the same issue with the canalphones. And I even tried using the new Comply T400 tips, which are made for canal-type sound tubes. Still seemed veiled, and lost detail. YMMV, but as earbuds, the OK3s are fantastic. As canalphones, so-so with the original tube. I can't say if they will be isolating enough for air travel, but I have my doubts. Interested to see how they fare.