The Apevoix is a tribrid IEM featuring three independent types of drivers. A 10mm dynamic driver (DD) powers the bass, 4 balanced armature drivers (BA) delivers the mids and treble, while an all new bone conduction (BC) driver presents incredible texture to your music. A total of 6 drivers in a 4-way crossover network ensures your music is accurate, detailed, and rich.
Bone Conductor IEM
The Apevoix features a powerful new bone conduction driver that delivers an incredibly realistic sound. Using a 11mm latest generation of bone conduction driver, the Apevoix presents an entirely new listening experience by using contact-vibrations, rather than traditional acoustic tubes, to produce sound. The bone conductor targets the entire frequency range, with strong rumble in the bass and pristine texture in the trebles to enhance your music.
Detailed Precision in the Mids and Treble
Four balanced armatures are utilized to drive the mid and treble range. Two balanced armature focus on the midrange, ensuring a layered and lush midrange. The midrange has been tuned to be clean and natural, with a slight warmth to vocals. Two separate balanced armatures power the treble, focusing on excellent representation of the human’s perceived hearing response for detailed, yet natural upper frequencies. The treble has excellent imaging and presence for an accurate soundstage delivery.
10mm Dynamic Driver for a Powerful Bass
The Apevoix utilizes a new 10mm biocellulose composite diaphragm, which features an incredibly complex matrix network of fibers for a firm and responsive bass response. The dynamic driver is propelled by strong neodymium magnets to produce punchy and impact bass. The bass emphasizes sub-bass rumble with a strong low-mid presence for powerful kick bass and bass guitar reference.
Natural and Engaging Tonality
The Apevoix has been professionally tuned with a four-way crossover system to sound balanced and natural. With a mild low-mid bass tuning, the Apevoix is engaging and fun, perfect to enjoy hip-hop, pop, and rock genres, while the mids and treble are accurate enough to be used for professional studio monitoring. Inside the Box
Apevoix Grit's Review - Budget Tribrid that doesn't sound budget at all!
Pros: BC driver at 229$!
Fun and impactful bass
Very good imaging and separation
Big soundstage
Scales with power
Cons: Treble might be a little too smooth for some (nitpicking)
General/Packaging/Comfort/Build
Apevoix is a new brand that’s unheard (at least to me) of, the brand’s only IEM which is the Grit with a 1DD+4BA+1BC drivers configuration, given the asking price, with a BC in the spec sheet, the Grit is sure to grab a lot of attention.
The packaging is very minimal but comes in a very nice hard case, although a little bit too big in my opinion, but very nice and you can basically just chuck a few items in the box if you opt to remove the sponge that are in the box. Within the box is a nicely braided and high quality cable that seems to have very good synergy with the Grit, and some generic eartips.
In terms of comfort, the shell is slightly big but i don’t feel any discomfort throughout my listening session, i am using a S sized eartips in order to get a deeper insertion, but this is entirely up to you, M or S, i am getting a good seal.
Equipment and Software used
Aune S9C
Fiio M23
Dunu DTC 480
Apple Music/Tidal/foobar2k
Dita Navigator
Foreword
My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone’s ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far
Sound Impression
Upon first listening impression, the Grit sounds very fun and smooth to my ears. I would say it's quite natural overall with a boost on the mid bass region, treble has sufficient details but not offensive. Slight warmish tonality with fairly natural timbre, still a slight hint of BA timbre is there if you pay real hard attention to it. Imaging is very impressive, possibly from the BC driver.
Bass
The bass has fairly good speed and it doesn’t sound bloated or muddy when listening to busy tracks such as Slipknot’s People’s = crap!, Metallica’s Lux Aeterna, it handled the speed drumming and kick flawlessly without bleeding into the mids
Sub bass rumble is very evident but doesn’t go that deep, i wouldn’t say this is something a basshead would look for, but for others, it has enough fun factor
The transition from sub to mid bass is very good, the mid bass doesn’t lack punch, and the sub and mid bass complement each other very well, mid bass doesn’t sound thin
The bass has good texture and doesn’t sound “loose”
Despite having only 1 DD, the bass is very impactful, and it is very fun when you are watching movies or gaming with it
Mids
The mids are neither too forward nor recessed, just right to my ears
Vocal positioning is just nice, just imagine the artist is probably 5-6 steps away from you
Male and female vocal has good texture to it and doesn’t sound thin, i would prefer the female vocal to have a little bit more bite, but given the overall smooth nature of Grit’s tuning, this is understandable
The bass doesn’t bleed into this range which is good
Pinna gain is rather safe and never shouty even when the volume is being cranked up, those who are sensitive in this range can consider the Grit
Treble
Treble is smooth and non-offensive, but retains enough energy to not sound dark
Despite having a smooth treble response, treble extension is quite good for this set depending on your personal preference, if you are someone who wants to hear every single detail in the track, the Grit might not be the one for you
Amount of air and presence is average but this is understandable as it is the tuning that they strive for
Detail retrieval is good enough, but not for critical listeners
Soundstage/Imaging
Soundstage is out of your head with good width, depth and height perception is good
Separation is good for the asking price, i would say it is above average for the price point
Imaging is very good as the instruments can be pinpointed easily even during busy track, certain complex orchestral track might not perform that well
Driveability
Grit is not hard to drive but it does scale well with more power, in terms of dynamics and bass control
Most of the entry level/mid range dongles will do just fine but desktop setup will squeeze every bit out of the Grit
Comparison (Letshuoer’s Cadenza 4)
Slightly cleaner sounding compared to Grit, in terms of tonality
Treble is smooth but resolution and detail retrieval capability is slightly better than Grit
Soundstage is rather 2D-ish and narrower compared to Grit, imaging is not as good
Mids has good body and vocals are not too recessed nor forward in the mix, it is the star of the show for Cadenza 4
Upper mids are not perceived as shouty as well
Very natural timbre overall and note weight is neither thin nor overly thick
Lesser bass quantity but good quality bass, and the focus of bass is more on the mid bass rather than sub bass, whereas Arete has a smooth transition between the sub and mid bass, hence both the sub and mid bass is very good, also, slightly more in terms of bass quantity
Overall, Cadenza 4 is tuned differently and targeted at different audience, both the Grit and Cadenza 4 are good sets, so at the end of the day, it depends on your preference
Final Thoughts
As the brand’s first IEM, Grit is definitely no slouch. Personally, I think the pricing and the configuration has caught a lot of attention.
It does well with quite a lot of genres that i’m listening to, but Grit is not for someone who craves resolution and energetic treble, i’m not saying that the treble is bad, but it is just smooth and slightly lacking the energy that treble heads are looking for.
I would even go as far as saying the Grit its punching above its price point, at 229$, with the sonic performance as well as the build quality that it offers, i will not hesitate in recommending the Grit to anyone who likes this sort of sound signature that i have described in this review.
*A big thanks to Linsoul for sending this over for the purpose of this review. Thanks for the support and opportunity as always
Head over to their store if you are interested in getting a pair:
Pros: An 11mm Bone Conduction Driver IEM for $229.00
10mm DD deep bass additives
4 BAs to enlighten the mids and down-tuned treble
6 driver tribrid
Pretty shells and perfect nozzle length and angle
Aluminum nozzle lips to hold any ear-tip on
Cool big storage box
The Grit plays Heavy Metal like it was made for it
Smooth yet vivid midrange holding great timbre
Could be your only IEM if you dig the signature, and especially if you only listen to Heavy Metal
Plays everything, though some genres better than others
Perfect guitars, both in tone and timbre
Pinna Gain maxes out right at 3kHz peak
Shell design incorporates the universal custom ear database shape
Score based on sound immersion per $ spent
Cons: Big, but only 6 grams each
Not much treble energy after 5kHz
Not the clearest vision into the separation, but big imaging that brings the musicality into play
Not the most focused bass imaging of pace for the money
Plays everything, though some genres better than others
There is a new IEM "tough-guy" man in town. He simply appeared out of nowhere, with no history or introduction, simply strolling through the main street. Apevoix Grit is his name and he means business. He is a little on the large size, a tribrid of unknown origin but we know for certain he carries guns……..an 11mm Bone Conductor Driver which you will feel in your soul. A 10mm Dynamic Driver and 4 Balanced Armatures for midrange and treble. He is not leaving anytime soon, so let’s try and make friends.
First impressions:
I give this unknown company points for coming out with this style of packaging. This package I would call environmentally friendly, being that there is a single information sleeve around the box, which I will show in the review. This sleeve is the only documentation for the IEM, plus after you open the box you realize that there is nothing to throw away except for a plastic bag for the ear-tips and a plastic bag for the cable.
Simple!
I truly wish every company would gravitate towards this style of display, especially since you end-up with a storage box that is high quality. The Apeviox company has done away with standard packaging, and left you with usable items of value. Hello, other IEM makers, hello!
Build:
I would call the large size, chunky! The shell faceplates are a carbon fiber look with yellow crystals or foil embedded, becoming understated and nice. Probably the depth of the design inside the faceplates makes it. The nozzles are not shallow or long and at the perfect angle for comfort. 100% 3D resin build means these are still low-weight and comfortable to the skin. Three vents off the side (near the faceplate) offer medium noise occlusion, though when you put them in your ears you hear almost a resonance of I guess the Bone Conduction System. This sound goes away when you take your finger off them........with a final send-off sound. HAHA
Sound:
The overall sound is what you would imagine from studying the graph. Really these sound exactly like the graph would have you believe. A balance still in that 10mm woofer is kicking it, and the 4BA drivers are adding to the air and stage size. The Bone Conduction System really works, yet it is a phenomenon that takes a moment to understand. Meaning sure there is an extra added physicality to the stage, which seems to set-in imaging a little closer inside your skull. This extra is just that..........an added welcome extra, that is not distracting nor vivid, but simply there. After rotating through 6 different cables I started to understand the Grit better. Cables are my way of learning about the full-on extremes of capabilities of a new IEM. I rotated in Graphene cables, Gold alloy cables, Copper cables and Mixed cables for you today.
What I can say is yes, the Grit does go along with cable changes and has both good and "OK" characteristics. Meaning the very best I heard the Grit was with a Gold Alloy cable adding density. Now the biggest thing you notice upon putting the Grit in your ears is the stage. Next you totally hear the bass, yet it is careful enough to let the midrange and treble through. By through I mean the treble (notice the lack of air) is on the smoother side of the street, and surprisingly it did sound like BAs, only it also showed very much the quintessential Hybrid tone. Going to the included cable showed the Grit to be itself, and there is no documentation of what the included cable is, though the included cable can easily be beat with almost any aftermarket cable you have, especially if those cables include 4.4mm access to amplification. Just being honest here.
In ending:
I probably gel with the tune, that and the texture of the BAs is cool, meaning they are still going to be 4 BAs a side, and you know that. Then the 10mm driver adds the needed warmth to make this work-out. And the spice, the added realism is the Bone Conduction Drivers..............one in each IEM. That added extra just shows how this BCD technology is getting lower cost and more affordable. Is it better than the 4 other Bone Conduction Drivers I have heard? No, but it is there, just not encasing every note with full on density like a few other BCDs do. Yet I see value here, and this instance of Bone Conduction is an added benefit no matter which angle you choose to judge it by. Is this the future? I hope more companies add Bone Conduction and I hope more companies emulate Apeviox's packaging! Is it worth the money? I think that it is, especially with how the Grit has a very, very good tune, that while it has an ounce less of physicality in the treble and midrange, the stage and speed of transients make up for this defect, making the Grit something of value. I have only given the Grit 12 hours of burn-in, and it changed into smoothness, who knows, it could even get smoother and more cohesive as burn-in goes along?
Today! January 15th, 2025
Look, I was going to put this review off another day, but the Grit kept talking to me. And that is kinda how it is. These reviews write themselves and I’m a bystander, it helps if the IEM has enough burn-in.........the Apeviox Grit has 7 days of it. Plus I have changed out the included cable for the SIMGOT AUDIO LC7 in 4.4mm. Now the included cable is nice, I mean look at the pictures here of it. The included cable is thick, and well mannered, but it doesn't have 4.4mm termination to use the different 4.4mm amplifier in the Sony WM1A.
But back to my story, the Grit has been bugging me. You see, I keep that red storage box next to my bed. My Wife has not said anything about it being there so far. And like a treasure chest the Grit IEMs just sit in there, fully protected and ready for action. I took them out this AM and put them in my ears, then walked across the room to get a bite of granola. And sure enough with the LC7 cable hanging loose, I could hear even a bit of crunched granola (as I chewed) resonating into the BCD and making a dull ringing sound. Now this does not affect performance when the volume is turned on, but I just wanted to tell you about it. Let’s get going because we have a lot to cover today!
The Grit with LC7 cable below.
Left to right:
7Hz Timeless II 14.5mm Planar Driver IEM $229.00
Apevoix Grit 1DD + 4BA +1BC Tribrid IEM $229.00 NiceHCK Himalaya 10mm CNT Dynamic Driver IEM $296.10
Side-by-sides:
Having as many IEMs as I do makes doing choices for these side-by-sides difficult at times. Yet this time I’m pretty proud of myself. I found three IEMs of totally different driver methodology, yet all coming in roughly the same price. Yet the most important feature about them is that I really like them, that is the number one reason you should choose your side-by-side IEMs. Also the different driver make-up will help delineate what the Grit ultimately is in addition to tone and technicalities. Plus the two challengers are well known IEM commodities which are common and often heard by the public at large.
Let's get started:
My set-up is the Sony WM1A with MrWalkmans firmware, the LC7 modular cable in 4.4mm, and the new NiceHCK C04 (super clear) ear-tips. This choice of cable seems to give the Grit an advantage, and works well with the other two in test because of an expanded lower midrange heft. The LC7 also tames brighter treble and midrange, which happens to be a great cable to go with many of SIMGOT’s stuff too.
7Hz Timeless II:
Here the Timeless II needs a little more juice (the the Grit) to get going. I’m using the standard Gold nozzles. Normally I like Hybrids a little better than Planar IEMs, but this Timeless II is really something. In many ways they share the same tune, though the bass is slightly more pronounced with the Grit, yet the Timeless offers better bass detail, as would be expected by a tight well tuned Planar, just faster and imaged well. Where our Grit as expected is not as cohesive sounding, this lack of cohesiveness creates a separation of bass and treble, yet this Grit expanded midrange is slightly more busy, not as relaxed in image definition, more all over he place!
There is a vividness to the Timeless II and an honesty that just won’t quit here. More, slightly more true to life construction of elements, where the Grit is still big staged and fully entertaining, plus it fits me better. Where sure there is a tinge of Bone Conduction, yet those 4BAs start to overpower the BCD presence in comparison to a few other BCDs I have heard.
This whole display of all these drivers in the Grit…….6 units all firing off at one time creates a slightly softer idea of fullness, yet the amount of Bone Conduction goes with this, so it is not like you are asking for more of anything from the Grit. Probably it is the actual personality of the BAs, the 4 BAs a side of the Grit that are showing themselves to be not only out front, but stuff like electric guitar can at times be slightly bright, and this makes the Timeless more well-rounded of a performer.........except the Timeless has more treble!
Now being really the two IEM carry much the same tune, it is just the Timeless has a blacker background, with midrange and treble pushing through offering slightly more contrasts, and the Grit with a slight BA tone. In the end after four back and forth change outs there are better image separations from the Timeless II, so much so that it is hard to imagine it is only one driver doing these tricks. Though there is slightly more bass from the 10mm DD of the Grit and the 11mm BCD, the vocals are still slightly more set back, bathing in this slight static. To where the full-range BCD is adding to the physicality of the Grit, yet at moments the Timeless II sounds more real.
This was a tough side-by-side, though the more I listen to the Grit the more I like it, and may like it better than the Timeless II, due to a Pinna Gain that is forward but smoothed out at the last minute, not doing the treble that the Timeless II puts out. The Grit offering a slightly more laid-back treble experience, that when added to this busier idea of Grit imaging………makes for a luxurious listen in the end. So it is not always technicalities and realism that make points, even though reading this you may guess otherwise.
NiceHCK Himalaya:
Here we are witnessing again very close to the same tune, only now the DD is showcasing a slight decay to the bass imaging creating a smearing of pace, yet only slightly and probably indicative of a full-range DD in the end. Here the vocals are brought forward maybe more than the Timeless II and an almost brittle midrange after spending a half hour with the other two.
I mean it is not brittle really, but starting to lean that way. There is definitely less separation than the last two IEMs, a cohesiveness in stage and imaging to the NiceHCK, that makes the Timeless II seem more contrasty. That there is an upper energy that the Grit has down-tuned into a more accessible smoothness up-top in comparison the the NiceHCK.
To where here the Himalaya is running with this treble and utilizing this energy to project images of treble events outwards into a more high-up stage. The Grit is more mid-focused and showcases images inside that midrange. That I never want to downplay the amount of midrange energy in the Grit, because that focus, which even goes into the upper midrange, makes a listener feel like they don’t need all this treble brightness to get by? What Apevoix did was make the midrange have so much energy, you simply don’t need an extra level of treble icing on the cake.
Graph:
Look, for one the IEM in review sounds exactly like the graph shows it would! Even the 10mm bass provider is heard, though not as forward as you would think, due to the battle for attention with the 3kHz peak in the end. So what that leaves us with is definite contrasts, but from just reading the comparisons, not the most contrasts possible, deflated a little due to all the drivers interacting.
Build:
At 6 grams the Grit is average weight, though you can’t help but notice the size difference in the comparison photos, yep the Grit is large. While offering a unique design, the faceplate is actually clear in places along with the semi-transparent shells which allow you to see one set of BAs close to the nozzle end........and another sitting a little farther back. You can see the 11mm BCD driver as well as the 10mm DD. In reality there is a surprising open space inside the shell!
A fastened screen sits atop the perfect nozzle length and angle, making these hold ear-tips on fabulously. I have to say this is one of the more comfortable IEMs, regardless of size, probably due to average weight? There are three small holes off the faceplate together as a group. And come to think of it, it is the usage of the human ear database design that has allowed for this semi-custom fit and feel, making my day! That, and the actual resin they used feels really good. Looking more closely at the shells I see the faceplate has foil embedded details, and black and gray layers...........stands that are overlapping inside. When you shine a light inside you also see the faceplate has clear sections that allow you to look down into the IEM from the faceplate side, a first here at Redcarmoose Labs!
Cable: The exact make-up in unknown.
Packaging:
Music:
The music today is often the music I use in other reviews, as I know it well. Plus for me this list of five songs covers the range of genres I listen to the most. There are bass tests here, especially in the Kettle Drums (Timpani) found in Wonder Woman 1984 OST, there is mid bass and sub-bass found in Forza Motorsport OST, and even high pitched notes found in the ceiling of the Wonder Woman 1984 OST.
And believe me I have had the Grit now for a few weeks enabling me to grab it and test it with these tracks a few times, not just today. The Ambient Bass genre of "Shield Emitter" showcases not only very small high pitched details, but deep physically flowing bass, and “Oh My Goth” goes to explain how the Grit does rhythm and bounce, vocals and even pit-point small sounds…….which I will get into. The string examples come with Violins and Cellos is the Wonder Woman 1984 OST. Such items of replay also have leeway as really every IEM has its own character to present. That at times those strings are a little buried, or at other times they are way, way out front, demanding notice........but here they are a little buried. LOL
And while probably stage is my most important technicality found amongst IEM replay, tonal balance and having enough thrills on hand due to realistic instrument and vocal replay makes obvious points. It is the fact that Hybrids often have the best decays in the bass, and fast attacks in the BA mids and trebles, with those same attacks blended with fast decays…….simply due to BA nature.
BCD:
The extra effect here is the BCD, which could get suspicion due to over-all cost. Meaning many are going to wonder if the BCD really does the job, or is only shown on paper as a selling tool. I can tell you that while not as vivid as the 2 Sonion BCDs I’ve tried, this 11mm BCD is doing a trick, especially hearing it bloom a style of physicality during the side-by-sides, you could tell the 2 comparison IEMs just didn’t have that “thing” that BCD does.
This additive is a slight density to the stage, allowing sounds to be heard more inside your head, and that while subtle, especially with the total (R+L) 8 BAs going off here, it makes me wonder if I actually want more BCD sound, or if I’m OK just the way the position is. I’m probably going to say I’m satisfied, that maybe 2X the amount would help smooth out the BA tone a little, but that could end-up being read the wrong way? Sure one of the greatest improvements in IEM audio has been the control of BA timbre over the last two years. Manufactures know that this was the one critical aspect that would keep BA IEMs in popularity, or lost to bad timbre obscurity. When it comes down to it, this is all about realistic replay, and while no IEM is perfect, there are aspects of replay tone of some IEMs that becomes more believable than other lesser IEMs.
Kaveh Cohen, Michael Nielsen
Forza Motorsport OST
Brotherhood
44.1kHz - 24bit
Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.
This song is used for a few clues as to what we have. There is a beat, a metronome style of beat that is almost throughout the whole song. This holds the tempo, and while some IEMs go one step further to showcase this as a slap, that slap can be annoying, especially if it sounds unnatural. Here we have almost the entire backside, the deeper woody side of the tone. Yet the more I listen the more complete this tone carries itself to be? Starting at 00:09 there is a composite of bass sequence, this drum and the piano all introduced together. Probably the most forward would be the piano, and as such the most noticeable for timbre. Yes, the piano timbre tone is dead-on. At 00:26 we feel the subs kick, right where they need to be.
And while this song is not fully separated and itemized as some IEMs do, it is natural and of correct tone and sound signature..................way more important of a talent!
At 00:42 the big break into what the song's message is. This is background racing game music, so they did'nt want anything to distract from the game visuals. And nothing is……….except this style of music is recorded well and shows IEMs to be able to either reproduce the instruments correctly, the way they are supposed to sound, or variations of more correct, or lesser correct.
This introduction of a new synth preset is both deep and big, taking a new area of the stage that we didn’t know existed before now. This instrument is actually a great way to understand how the Grit does stage placement in that this synth is not only wide from left to right, but think from front to back and tall from bottom to top! It is times like this that you appreciate the stage size. Now this song can come-off more vibrant with more treble activated IEMs, that yes we are witnessing a nice set of contrasts, but it is coming from a warmer and balanced idea of playback.
I mean really this song gives us plenty of clues as to the tonal character here, and maybe a little surprisingly it is just a touch warmer than expected, but still totally nice and friendly……OH and immersive, the song is immersive.
Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video. Gdanian
Induction
Shield Emitter (feat. Tineidae) 44.1kHz - 24bit
I used the word immersive to describe the last song, yet the people hearing this exact song would laugh at that word. Why? Because that last song was immersive, only this number is 10X more immersive due to the musical genre attempted.
Yep, this is the music they are actually referring to when people use the word immersive.
Called Ambient Bass Genre, this is a ride and a half. At 00:13 the second more emphasized bass drop holds the goods. Now it should be mentioned this bass is not 100% the most detailed, and the BCD may just almost add to that loss in definition, except they are generating a felt presence added to the 10mm DD. At 00:14 the Blade Runner synth takes front and center, taking notice and taking the wheel so to speak. This song is funny too in that the music has enough decays for 10 songs, it makes the IEM sound like it is producing decays and reverberation. At just 01:32 the song is projected into full-on being, no questions asked. That sure I have heard this with more itemized treble, and of course here the emphasis is not to showcase sounds above 6kHz. To where probably many are going to love this smoothness, I don’t mind it at all, I’m just reporting on it, encase you but the IEM, you have been informed.
And really this is much like the next song, in that sure we have in the digital file.........a plateau of information, only it is not critical to understanding the music, in fact if you had never heard this song any other way, you may never know that top-end even existed.
Hans Zimmer
Wonder Woman 1984 (sketches)
No Hero Is Born from Lies
44.1kHz - 24bit
Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.
Later in this review I will talk extensively about guitar playback, except now it’s orchestra time, and is it ever. The subs are strong with the Grit. I mean since this is a review and all I will disclose how this is a busy track and has a lot going on.
I have heard both more expensive IEMs, and even lesser expense IEMs take this sonically apart better.
Still…….the musical component is left intact. It is slightly more blended together than I would have even guessed. Now part of this could be because this song uses way high up sticks to generate a rhythm going along with the low Timpani Drums? Yet at the same time, we really are at a place to hear much of what gifts this song is about, to where noticeably the 10mm is providing the sub bass this song contains. Still while the Cellos and Violins can be heard, they don’t jump out.
KMFDM
Paradise
Oh My Goth
44.1kHz - 24bit
Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video. Boom!
That’s the thunder at the start. Yet I always use a high pitched, very small artifact in this song to judge the treble. This small sample I have used for at least 5 years. And was surprised when I first heard it in 2019. Frankly I don’t even know what the small sound is, but I do know it can get played back in a myriad of different ways. This almost sounds like paper being ruffled, but using my imagination, it is a strike of lightning? Or who knows, maybe something fell over in the studio, but no, it must be intentional.
The sound at 00:11 is right after the thunder and what sounds like almost a wolf howl. But I can tell you here with the Grit it is on the best side of faint, almost not heard at all. At 00:44 the rhythm guitar kicks in, yet before that we find a bounce and groove that we have not explored yet today.
This pace is of utmost importance. Why?
This is the soul of Rock, it is one of the reasons, or the main-main reason you buy this IEM, and buy any IEM for that matter. Yep, this feeling is a necessity and would designate any and all IEMs (that couldn't do it) to the back row................if you were into this style of music, or any Rock music for that matter. This occurs from a communication between the drums and the bass, it is hand to describe, but if it is gone, it is like someone turned off the lights……being so noticeable.
Probably over analytical styles of playback can suck the Rock-n-roll life out of a song? Yet here we are rewarded with a keeper, part of the Rock-and-roll family. Rejoice!
Conclusion: Really I must start this conclusion at the very beginning. The Box Opening experience made me feel good inside. I have had my share of opening experiences, and I have to agree with Apevoix in their ideas of being environmentally correct. A regular 5 minute box opening experience generates a lot (of extras) that end-up in the trash can. Here we are not even using much paper to describe what the IEM is or where it is from. Everything here except for a few plastic bags and a paper sleeve is usable and economic; the way it should be! The red case looks like a tool chest, and not exactly for an IEM, but somehow after you get it........it works. And it really works for its intended usage to protect the IEMs no matter what.
(The day the Grit arrived) once I opened the envelope the box came in, I instantly dropped it! And sure enough it came all the way from China in perfect condition, and due to the red box the IEMs remained in perfect condition and I like that. Clumsy me!
Now the real ideas of gratitude come from the Grit’s stage and demeanor. You saw the graph, this is almost as contrasty as you can tune an IEM to be. Yet how that comes-off in use is balanced and vivid. Out of the box I thought this IEM was going to be intense, but after burn-in and mental burn-in the Grit became my friend. So much so that I was excited to have it, and kept it by my side for two weeks. Even during burn-in I would continue to test the Grit to try and judge where it was going inside the burn-in process. I don’t really do this with the IEMs I get. Sure it is a mainstream tuning, it is designed to appeal to the most people possible in tuning signature. The fit is special, yet it is on the larger side of town. The Grit IEM 3.5mm cable and ear-tips (that came at the bottom of the box) are totally usable and quality. And if I was to find one quality that I thought won out over everything else, it would be the stage. Yep, the stage is what kept me coming back for more, it was just when everything would line up in playback the stage was the one thing that sounded like money, more money than they are asking. I even thought about it and said that I would be fine having the Grit be my only IEM, that’s how much I like it. Probably the other main thing is the tuning, holding exactly enough detail to keep me going. This idea of letting the 3kHz bump do a lion's share of the upper work seems to go down well.
Again, why? Why do you like the Grit so much? Stage! But there is more………….you see when I was doing this review I started to note something, something truly special here!
That the Grit is actually great for Heavy Metal. It is this Heavy Metal forward guitar that started to really take me places! That weeks ago, I was not sure about this forwardness, because that is how forwardness is, it can start to creep in too much. But maybe it’s the LC7 cable, maybe it’s the ear-tips, maybe it is just the time I spent listening to the Grit? Because now Heavy Metal is almost my favorite genre with the Grit?
Insomnium Argent Moon EP
The Conjurer 44.1kHz - 24bit Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video. This opening contains a matrix of acoustic guitar and effects laden electric guitar, maybe piano? There are also ample drums and cymbal splashes found at the start. Yet before the true electric guitars hit at 00:33 we are rewarded with a set of chord progressions that are in actuality the out-line of the song. Having been a guitar player for almost 50 years, I know when guitars are right. I may not know much about the rest of the instruments, but I know the guitar. About 75% of the time I use guitar to judge timbre, and this Grit timbre is really really good, even better than I thought a week ago, and I don’t know why this is, but it is staying in place? At 00:33 this soaring guitar lead hits us, and we are swept away with involvement. Really when you get down to it, it is important to not try and over analyze why we get the involvement, as it could be a combination of balance, tone and technicalities, still whatever it is, it is here. At 01:25 the harsh vocals are met with a backing track of soft vocals, yet only for a moment.
That mixture is the clue of what will take place after the break at 01:41. Especially at 01:48 you can hear the female vocal backing adds. At 02:48 the song is now in full-swing…….and these are fairly dense examples of the sound recording art. To where somehow the Grit does every aspect of this movement in detail, the backing vocals, the layers of guitar, the lead guitar…..the drums! What is taking place is the harsh vocals are heard except set back in the mix, where they are suppose to be, the backing vocals and guitar embellishments are taking over at the outskirts of the stage. And that talk about where the Grit sits in comparison to the 7Hz Timeless II or NiceHCK Himalaya is long forgotten, as whatever the Grit is doing now........is what is important at this point.
It is the Grit balance and carefulness of tune, and separation that makes this all work. At 05:01 the final lead approaches, and we hear it all........in all its glory........yet at the same time floating on a bed of support from all the background instrumentation and vocals. At 05:34 we hear the piano that has been put into the background for much of the song.
After hearing how the Grit did this number I went on a mission, unearthing the most treble injected songs I could find, and I’m here to report, nothing was too treble laden, or intense to my ears. Really that is the magic that Apevoix has found, in that there is this downward slope from 3kHz to 5kHz that makes music with boosted treble, or regular music with regular treble heard correctly and enjoyed. And I don’t even need to talk about how well done the upper midrange is, as that’s a given. Some folks may see the graph and not realize that it is all here, every bit of entertainment! Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer:
The Apevoix Grit IEM has had a total of 7 days of burn-in.
Disclaimer:
I want to thank Kaitlyn of Linsoul for the love and the Apevoix Grit IEM review sample.
Disclaimer:
These are one person's ideas and concepts, your results may vary.
Equipment Used:
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman’s Firmware 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman’s Firmware 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03 3.5mm single ended and 4,4mm balanced
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
Samsung Phone 3.5mm
HiBy R3 II DAP 4.4mm
7Hz Artemis39 Bluetooth Amplifier and DAC 4.4mm
ifi Go blu Bluetooth Amplifier and DAC 4.4mm
ifi hip dac 3 Amplifier and DAC 4.4mm
Pros: Very warm tonal balance
Comfortable and not bright sound delivery
Very powerful bass with excellent vibration
Sub bass is deep and rich
Mid bass is very punchy and textural
The lower middle is very warm and weighty
The midrange is quite transparent and atmospheric
The upper midrange area is quite energetic and emotional in its presentation, but it doesn't get tiring
High frequencies are absolutely not bright and not sharp, forget about sibilants
Cons: Not too technical and analytical in its presentation, created more for comfortable and not tedious listening
- Introduction - Friends hi everyone, today in the review we will consider very interesting tribrid headphones from a new company Apevoix costing 229$.
And they come in a small red case with the company logo,and the name of this Grit model.
And here are the technical specifications and for the sound in these headphones is responsible for the dynamic driver with a diameter of 10 mm, 4 armature drivers for medium and high frequencies, and complements all this matter bone conduction driver, well, and the sensitivity is 104 db and they received an impedance of 16 ohm.
- Let's take a look at what's included - 1.Large branded case.
2.Great cable with 2 pin connectors and 3.5 mm jack connector.
3.Set of silicone ear tips and foam tips.
4.IEM. The headphones are very large and made entirely of dark resin, and the front panel has a rather unusual and even somewhat unique design with a small 3d effect that looks very cool, and the company logo on both headphones is not bad so fits into the overall design concept.
And here they have a 2 pin connector for connecting the cable and next to it there are three small holes for compensation, well as the sound guide here is metal optimal in length and width, with a protective mesh and edge for better fixation of the ear tips.
And with the fit and comfort I personally had no problems to use them can be used as with the complete ear cushions and with any other, but preferably choose a wider and then it's great, there is a great sound insulation and a very comfortable fit, but I definitely have to tell you that these headphones are definitely not for small ears, because even I have them stick out of the ear quite a lot if you look from the side, but for example, I personally do not worry about it, but to tell you about it I think I must, because for someone it may be important when choosing headphones.
- Tuning and Conception - Well now let's talk about how the Apevoix Grit tribrid headphones sound, this is what their frequency response graph looks like, these headphones have a bass boost of 8 dB, with a smooth transition to the lower midrange area, and the accent in the upper midrange area here has a boost of 10 dB, which makes the sound of these headphones more energetic and emotionally rich, but quite restrained as the treble in these headphones is on the rather dark side, and I can tell you for sure that it is not bright at all, not harsh, and generally not light headphones, there is just a very warm and darkened presentation, for fans of a more comfortable and a little relaxed warm sound, without the emphasis on all sorts of micronuances and explicit analytics with technicality, but I think that some people will like this presentation very much, although personally I would not mind if the treble here were more prolonged I think it would definitely play to their advantage, well now let's analyze the sound of these headphones in more detail.
- Low Frequencies - Well friends bassheads rejoice, here they are headphones with a really powerful bass, because in Apevoix Grit bass is literally the basis of their sound, creating a powerful and deep foundation.
And the obvious bassiness of these headphones is evident right from the first notes: the sub-bass confidently descends into the lowest registers, creating a dense and rich sound, which is literally already felt physically due to the small but nevertheless audible work of the bone driver. And in this range, the bass is not just audible, it is actually even felt, thanks to some vibration, which adds the necessary mass and depth to the sound.
And the sub-bass in these headphones penetrates very deeply into absolutely any compositions, giving them the proper saturation and volume and fullness, especially noticeable in modern electronic trends, fans of techno and similar genres will definitely be satisfied.
Since the perception of the sub bass here is really powerful, concentrated, but at the same time not at all blurred on the texture and most importantly well controlled that prevents its dominance over other frequencies.
And the midbass in these headphones is certainly good, it is punchy, elastic, a little smooth in perception, but with a very good audibility of saturation and distortion, although to my taste I would like it to be a little more transparent, but nevertheless the bass parts of instruments, such as bass guitar, sound deep and clearly audible, maintaining a good warm naturalness in its presentation and a noticeable rhythmicity, which makes the sound more attractive and certainly not boring.
And overall, bass is definitely the strong point of these headphones, providing a rich, powerful and controlled sound with a fairly fast and accurate attack.
They give the music the necessary fundamental foundation, the right kind punch, and provide good energy and depth in the output, which makes listening to completely different genres of music more exciting and emotionally intense. - Mid Frequencies - And the midrange of Apevoix Grit is without exaggeration, one of the most exciting parts of their sound.
As they literally boil with crazy energy, creating a sense of continuous movement and I would even say a certain emotional tension noticeable already in very cool cinematogrophic soundtracks, and believe me these headphones will not leave you alone.
As this range is responsible for the transmission of vocals and instruments with amazing emotionality and presence.
Therefore, vocals in these headphones sound really very rich and expressive.
And literally every word, every intonation is transmitted with such clarity and even sensitivity that it seems as if the vocalist is standing and performing right in front of you, i.e. in these headphones he is clearly in the foreground as if you just got to his concert.
And any nuances of the voice - from a light whisper to some powerful screams in heavy genres are reproduced in these headphones with good detail, sufficient transparency, adding a real emotional depth to the music and more naturalness and liveliness of the composition, which I think should definitely be preserved in any headphones, that is, this naturalness in the presentation in any case should not be lost, and this is where these headphones definitely perfectly hold the focus when listening.
And guitars, especially electric guitars, in this range sound extremely sharp and with a characteristic drive.And every movement of the plectrum on the strings, every note - all this is felt with very amazing clarity and transparency.
And this combination of some added aggression and noticeable musicality in guitar riffs gives the tracks a special and necessary energy, which just energizes you during listening.And the kick drums also play an important role in this range.
And each even slightly light drum beat is transmitted in such a way that you literally feel the whole rhythm, as all the same bone driver here is definitely in these headphones for a reason, and adds in this range really much more atmosphere and more emotions when listening to these headphones, and here who has never tried headphones with this type of radiator I can safely recommend these headphones.
And to summarize, the midrange of these headphones makes the sound tight, collected and as rich as possible, adding a noticeable dynamic and emotionality to the music.
This range provides the foundation for musical instruments and vocals, making them sound more vibrant and expressive. And this energy that they transmit is really breathtaking from the first seconds and keeps you going until the end, so just turn on the right music and enjoy! - High Frequencies - Well, the high frequencies in these headphones create a very pleasant atmosphere of relaxation and warmth.
They are noticeably so darkened, which immediately removes from the sound in general any possible sharpness or lightness even the smallest, often found just in headphones with more aggressive and highlighted treble.
And this darkening makes the output sound to some extent a little soft, analog and I would say in general extremely unobtrusive, that is just ideal for very long listening.
And this smoothness of high frequencies is especially noticeable when reproducing such instruments as flutes or violins, as well as when reproducing vocals. Cymbals, cymbals and percussion sounds sound restrained but detailed enough to retain their clarity and distinctness.
They certainly don't dominate the mix, but rather just kind of neatly complement it, adding very light accents and necessary textures that enrich the overall sonic background.And the comfort of high frequencies is achieved thanks to their very warm presentation.
And this warmth makes it feel as if the sound is enveloping you in a soft, and velvety blanket.
And sibilants, which can often be harsh or annoying, here smoothed to such an extent that their presence becomes almost imperceptible, which is especially appreciated when listening to vocal music or poorly recorded or mixed musical compositions, that is, if your library has music that in some way is not ideal, and this may well be and it is normal, and even I have a couple of tracks that as far as I am far from the ideal in terms of mixing, then with these headphones you have absolutely nothing to worry about, as they will not emphasize all these nuances and problems of information, and just comfortably deliver only what is necessary.
Overall, the treble in the Apevoix Grit is about softness and comfort. They don't strive for aggressive detailing, but rather offer a balanced, warm sound that is pleasant to listen to without fatigue, even at high volume levels, but if you need crazy technicality detail and analytics, you should definitely look towards other headphones, and all other guys who like this kind of presentation will definitely appreciate them. - Sound Stage - Well, the soundstage in these headphones is quite wide and well separated.Instruments and small background elements in compositions are clearly and obviously localized, which creates a good sense of sound volume and space.
And in tracks with more complex arrangements, such as symphonic music or progressive rock, the headphones do an excellent job of separating layers and highlighting details without creating the so-called “mush” effect.
As you feel that each instrument in the mix has its own dedicated place, without any blurring of the image.
And the depth of the scene is quite well expressed in these headphones, with a sense of layered and spatialized sound.
Front and back are clearly separated, allowing you to distinguish between distant and near sound sources.
And it creates the necessary effect of presence, when music surrounds the listener, not just sounds in one plane.
In general, the soundstage in Apevoix Grit turned out with moderate width and depth, providing a rather natural and cozy perception of space. Instruments and vocals are well localized and slightly forward in construction, creating a great feeling of being in a small concert hall.
Although not as large in scale as some other more expensive models, these headphones offer precise and correct separation of instruments, making it very comfortable and clear to hear.
My conclusion on this headphones! And the conclusion on the Apevoix Grit tribrid headphones I got the following, it is very musical and warm in its presentation of headphones, with quite powerful and punchy bass, warm but quite energetic and emotionally highlighted middle, and very softened and darkened high frequencies, and for all who like a powerful highlighted bass, and at the same time not at all tiring and very comfortable presentation I can safely recommend these headphones! Buy this headphones on Linsoul Official Website: https://www.linsoul.com/products/apevoix-grit
I wish companies would be more specific on the bone conduction driver. Maybe patents or implementation secrets encourage vagueness, but this $229 iem has the same minimal details on the BCD as the $40 KBEAR KB02 BCD.
I wish companies would be more specific on the bone conduction driver. Maybe patents or implementation secrets encourage vagueness, but this $229 iem has the same minimal details on the BCD as the $40 KBEAR KB02 BCD.
Well, that is true, and while I have limited information now, the sonic qualities with surface in the review I write. Also I have 4 other BCD systems to quantify the abilities and balance.
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