One of my friends recently bought MG800 and I wanted to try it out to see how good (or bad) Shanling’s IEMs are as I’ve never heard any IEM from their lineup before.
I was in for a pleasant surprise. The vocals on the MG800 were simply outstanding. I happened to have Alpha Omega RA lying around and thought to compare the two and here are my thoughts.
To keep this fair, I used Eletech Baroque tips on both of them.
Sub Bass:
RA: The sub bass is deep and rumbly, making its presence felt without stealing the spotlight from instruments and vocals.
MG800: The sub bass is almost non-existent in comparison, lacking impact but making vocals and instruments pop out more.
Mid Bass:
RA: Packs a punch with defined mid bass that only gets better with power, delivering wonderful texture and weight.
MG800: The mid bass is just okay, lacking the bite and texture that RA offers. It’s not bad by any means, but you’ll miss the impactful drum hits when compared to RA.
Lower Mid Range:
MG800: Shines here with accurate, perfectly balanced male vocals that have slight warmth and the right amount of note weight. Male vocals feel effortlessly fluid.
RA: Stands out in vocal texture. While MG800 lets you hear the singers' gasps, RA lets you *feel* them, adding a natural and intense realism.
Upper Mid Range:
MG800: Female vocals dominate with brilliant emotion and control over high and low pitches. However, it can cross the line into shimmer on certain tracks.
RA: Balances on the edge of sharpness and just-rightness, avoiding overt sharpness while delivering clear vocals.
Treble:
MG800: A mixed bag. Its airy treble makes instruments stand out due to the lesser sub and mid bass, but it can be slightly sibilant with a quick decay and a bit of sizzle.
RA: The treble feels just right without being excessive, offering good extension and a slightly slower decay. It’s less airy than MG800 but more defined and less sibilant.
Staging:
MG800: Has a mid-forward presentation with slightly wider staging for the instruments.
RA: Wins in overall width and depth. Vocals and instruments are perfectly layered with enough distance to avoid any clutter, making RA’s depth absolutely dominate.
So here’s my conclusion:
the RA offers powerful bass and immersive staging, while the MG800 excels in mid-range clarity and vocal performance. The RA’s texture and depth make it a standout, while the MG800’s precise vocal delivery makes it special in its own right.