voxsonitusaudioreviews.wordpress.com
Ikko OH1: Cobalt Goodness
Disclaimer:
Vox Sonitus Audio Reviews is not affiliated with ikko Audio in any manner. I do not receive any cash incentives, rewards, or anything from them. This review is my non-biased comprehension and appreciation of the said in ear monitor.
The product we’ll be reading about today is from Ikko Audio Technology, a relatively new company that has started its journey with the ikko Meteor (ikko OH1). Currently, Penon sells them here at 139$. The OH1 is equipped with a Knowles BA and a single dynamic driver, and is a good entry for the midfi range of iems.
About Ikko:
Ikko itself comes from a large Chinese ODM (original design manufacturer), which has created solutions for many well-known brands over the years. Through shareholders with strong operational experience, ikko rose as a company during late 2018
Their philosophy is as stated on their website:
“IKKO aims to promote a new concept of “FREE” and high fidelity for music lovers in the context of the rapid development of contemporary digital music. As a new brand, IKKO is committed to bringing the new era of digital life design concepts into a combination of tireless innovation to bring outstanding audio-visual Experience.
As quoted by Watson from Ikko Audio Technology, “We hope that consumers and partners can bring the best experience of [today’s era]. As mentioned on our official website, we are committed to the close combination of people and the “mobile Internet”, to bring real “free” applicable experience.”
Ikko has, as of writing this review, only released one iem. Ikko’s promise on delivering “free” hifi stems from their deliverance of price to performance ratio, with more products coming soon that will be “quality products”, to be on par or even better than the OH1.
Personal Preferences:
Under the envelope is the star of the show; the beautifully designed drivers, together with two sets of silicone eartips.
In total, the buyer receives the following:
Ikko punched way above its price bracket in its packaging. The unboxing experience feels premium. They did not cut costs in materials used in packing the OH1, making sure that the iem is presented in an organized manner while maintaining its safety in thick and sturdy boxes.
Build:
The 100$ iem price range is pretty much congested. It is truly very hard to standout because there are so many iems that are fairly good in this range. The ikko OH1, however, immediately takes its stand with its outstanding design, coupled with sturdy build quality.
The drivers are fairly large and have this deep blue color to them that, when light hits it, turns to a lighter shade of blue. The faceplate has polygonal etchings that ikko insists to be the surface of a meteor, hence, its name. There is a clear division between the faceplate and the entire body of the drivers. The drivers have clear distinction of right and left as white markings are printed on to the metal shell. Nozzle is fairly stout with excellent grooving so that tips will stay in place. Driver mesh quality also does not look cheap.
The cable is a detachable .78mm two pin with red and blue markings at the male 2 pin end to distinguish between right and left channels. The male 2 pins are cylindrical in shape and are very sturdy. Ear guides are present. They are pre-looped, rather than having memory wire inside them. This is much more preferable, as having memory wire can sometimes be a nuisance to take off or put around the ear.
The cable is made up of 4 core high purity oxygen free copper silver plated material which boasts high frequency extension and low frequency strength. The braiding from the drivers towards the splitter is fine with no observable misfit.
The splitter is aluminum and cylindrical in shape. There is no observable strain relief, nor a chin slider.
The braiding from splitter to the 3.5mm plug is uniform. Its grayish color complements the OH1 very well.
There is a short strain relief that leads toward the L-shaped gold plated 3.5mm TRS plug. The deep blue color is also seen here.
Ikko did not cut costs in making the OH1. The drivers have a premium all metal build. Its stunning design is eye-catching. The deep blue and gray color scheme is very subtle and boasts confidence. The polygonal designs on the faceplate are outstanding. Although ikko did release an earlier version of OH1 that has received negative feedback about its cable having loose braiding, ikko responded with a newer version that has uniform build.
Fit and Comfort:
I have had a hard time trying to fit large drivers inside my ear, even though my ears are faily large. Despite the OH1 having large housings, they fit surprisingly very comfortably. The OH1 sits in the concha and the cavity between the tragus and antitragus with ease. The tail end of the iem does not bother me at all, as it fits in a perfect position.
Isolation:
Isolation on the OH1 is great, though they are not the best in isolation. The vocal eartips feel much more airy and loose compared to the balanced eartips. They do block out much of the noise but I wouldn’t use a 100$ iem for commute.
Sound:
Tips of choice: I used the included vocal eartips, as these sounded more open and detailed than the balanced eartips
Ikko stayed true to its promise of delivering extremely pleasing sound signature at an entry midfi price range. Its sound is natural, with more emphasis on the lows. Though the bass is very powerful, it does not eat away the upper frequencies. The Knowles balanced armature does a great job of presenting vocals and instruments without letting itself drown from the dynamic driver’s low end deliverance, nor sounding sibilant and sharp.
Bass –
This iem is a basshead’s delight. The performance of this iem in the low end is phenomenal. Sub bass is adequately strong and full bodied. Mid bass has that necessary thump to give energetic songs something to sit on. Upper bass has tone and is well textured.
Even though the iem has much subbass and midbass, they do not sound muddy at all. The bass plays more up front than highs, but they do not affect clarity and vibrancy. Ikko tuned the low ends very well to complement the higher frequencies
Mids –
Vocals sound natural and smooth. There is little coloration to its presentation. There is no emphasis on either male or female vocals. Sivert Hoyem’s voice in Blown Away goes deep and does not sound colored, while Anne Bisson’s voice in Dry My Tears sound sweet, with no audible sharp peaks in “s” or “t” sounds.
Instruments are also presented in a natural manner. There is no peak or emphasis, unlike other BA drivers that I have tested. Aja by Steely Dan plays very smooth and relaxing. The subtle palm mute can still be heard amidst the lot of instruments playing along the chorus.
The Knowles BA does an excellent job of being able to present the mids in a natural manner with no sibilance.
Highs –
Highs extend very well and have great resolution to them, though they are a lot more laid back than the lows and mids. Cymbals have quick decay. Piano keys in this region sound natural. Energetic music doesn’t sound fatiguing because the highs are more relaxed.
Clearly, the OH1 wasn’t made for analytical listening. It has easy-going highs that are less emphasized but extends very well.
Soundstage –
There is more width than depth to the OH1’s soundstage. Horizontal clearance is wide, while vertical clearance is a little bit shallow. Enya’s Orinoco Flowsounds excellent as there are no observable congestion, even though the song is very wide and busy with instruments and vocals overlapping each other.
Imaging –
In Yosi Horikawa’s Letter, every pencil stroke can be felt, as with every page being flipped. Even IV Of Spade’s CLAPCLAPCLAP shows how accurate OH1’s imaging is, with every clap being distinct from each other.
Conclusion:
Even though there are a lot of iems in the 100$ price point, the OH1 can stand out from the rest. This iem is excellent. It has it all; premium packaging, superior build quality, aesthetically pleasing design, amazing fit and comfort, neutrally relaxed tuning. The OH1 is a new entry level midfi that punches way above its price point.
The ikko OH1 is definitely worth more than its price. As an underdog company, ikko did very well in the OH1’s tuning. Their concept of “free hifi” really shines on the OH1.
Ikko OH1: Cobalt Goodness
Disclaimer:
Vox Sonitus Audio Reviews is not affiliated with ikko Audio in any manner. I do not receive any cash incentives, rewards, or anything from them. This review is my non-biased comprehension and appreciation of the said in ear monitor.
The product we’ll be reading about today is from Ikko Audio Technology, a relatively new company that has started its journey with the ikko Meteor (ikko OH1). Currently, Penon sells them here at 139$. The OH1 is equipped with a Knowles BA and a single dynamic driver, and is a good entry for the midfi range of iems.
About Ikko:
Ikko itself comes from a large Chinese ODM (original design manufacturer), which has created solutions for many well-known brands over the years. Through shareholders with strong operational experience, ikko rose as a company during late 2018
Their philosophy is as stated on their website:
“IKKO aims to promote a new concept of “FREE” and high fidelity for music lovers in the context of the rapid development of contemporary digital music. As a new brand, IKKO is committed to bringing the new era of digital life design concepts into a combination of tireless innovation to bring outstanding audio-visual Experience.
As quoted by Watson from Ikko Audio Technology, “We hope that consumers and partners can bring the best experience of [today’s era]. As mentioned on our official website, we are committed to the close combination of people and the “mobile Internet”, to bring real “free” applicable experience.”
Ikko has, as of writing this review, only released one iem. Ikko’s promise on delivering “free” hifi stems from their deliverance of price to performance ratio, with more products coming soon that will be “quality products”, to be on par or even better than the OH1.
Personal Preferences:
- Packaging is important. First impressions can last a long time.
- I do not have a specific genre that I listen to. The songs I listen to differ greatly from billboard tops to old classics, pop, rock, edm, acoustics, alternatives, metal, and all of its sub-genres. I incline listening to metal music, specifically to power metal, death metal, and the likes.
- I enjoy variety of sound signatures, ranging from bright analytical, balanced with only a slight dip in mids, neutral warm, and neutral bright. I generally lean to neutral-bright sound signature, with a certain degree of analytical sound. I dislike over powering bass, as it is the least enjoyable, for me, in my experience listening to music.
- I prefer iems over earbuds, earbuds over headphones.
- Shanling M3s as DAC (PC)
- Shanling M3s as DAP
- Zishan Z1 + OPA1692 as DAC (PC and my phone) and dap
- Zishan Z1 + Muses02 as DAC (PC and my phone) and dap
- Sony NW-A45
- iBasso DX120
- Balanced Armature: Knowles 33518
- Dynamic driver: 10mm polymer composite titanium-plated diaphragm dynamic driver
- Sensitivity:106dB
- Frequency range:20-40kHZ
- Imdepance:18ohm
- Cable length:1.2m
- Connector;2-pin 0.78mm
- Cable type:4 strands of 8 high-purity oxygen-free copper-plated 5n silver-plated cable
Under the envelope is the star of the show; the beautifully designed drivers, together with two sets of silicone eartips.
In total, the buyer receives the following:
- Ikko OH1 drivers
- 1.2m cable
- 3 sizes of balanced ear tips
- 3 sizes of vocal ear tips
- Velvet carrying pouch
Ikko punched way above its price bracket in its packaging. The unboxing experience feels premium. They did not cut costs in materials used in packing the OH1, making sure that the iem is presented in an organized manner while maintaining its safety in thick and sturdy boxes.
Build:
The 100$ iem price range is pretty much congested. It is truly very hard to standout because there are so many iems that are fairly good in this range. The ikko OH1, however, immediately takes its stand with its outstanding design, coupled with sturdy build quality.
The drivers are fairly large and have this deep blue color to them that, when light hits it, turns to a lighter shade of blue. The faceplate has polygonal etchings that ikko insists to be the surface of a meteor, hence, its name. There is a clear division between the faceplate and the entire body of the drivers. The drivers have clear distinction of right and left as white markings are printed on to the metal shell. Nozzle is fairly stout with excellent grooving so that tips will stay in place. Driver mesh quality also does not look cheap.
The cable is a detachable .78mm two pin with red and blue markings at the male 2 pin end to distinguish between right and left channels. The male 2 pins are cylindrical in shape and are very sturdy. Ear guides are present. They are pre-looped, rather than having memory wire inside them. This is much more preferable, as having memory wire can sometimes be a nuisance to take off or put around the ear.
The cable is made up of 4 core high purity oxygen free copper silver plated material which boasts high frequency extension and low frequency strength. The braiding from the drivers towards the splitter is fine with no observable misfit.
The splitter is aluminum and cylindrical in shape. There is no observable strain relief, nor a chin slider.
The braiding from splitter to the 3.5mm plug is uniform. Its grayish color complements the OH1 very well.
There is a short strain relief that leads toward the L-shaped gold plated 3.5mm TRS plug. The deep blue color is also seen here.
Ikko did not cut costs in making the OH1. The drivers have a premium all metal build. Its stunning design is eye-catching. The deep blue and gray color scheme is very subtle and boasts confidence. The polygonal designs on the faceplate are outstanding. Although ikko did release an earlier version of OH1 that has received negative feedback about its cable having loose braiding, ikko responded with a newer version that has uniform build.
Fit and Comfort:
I have had a hard time trying to fit large drivers inside my ear, even though my ears are faily large. Despite the OH1 having large housings, they fit surprisingly very comfortably. The OH1 sits in the concha and the cavity between the tragus and antitragus with ease. The tail end of the iem does not bother me at all, as it fits in a perfect position.
Isolation:
Isolation on the OH1 is great, though they are not the best in isolation. The vocal eartips feel much more airy and loose compared to the balanced eartips. They do block out much of the noise but I wouldn’t use a 100$ iem for commute.
Sound:
Tips of choice: I used the included vocal eartips, as these sounded more open and detailed than the balanced eartips
Ikko stayed true to its promise of delivering extremely pleasing sound signature at an entry midfi price range. Its sound is natural, with more emphasis on the lows. Though the bass is very powerful, it does not eat away the upper frequencies. The Knowles balanced armature does a great job of presenting vocals and instruments without letting itself drown from the dynamic driver’s low end deliverance, nor sounding sibilant and sharp.
Bass –
This iem is a basshead’s delight. The performance of this iem in the low end is phenomenal. Sub bass is adequately strong and full bodied. Mid bass has that necessary thump to give energetic songs something to sit on. Upper bass has tone and is well textured.
Even though the iem has much subbass and midbass, they do not sound muddy at all. The bass plays more up front than highs, but they do not affect clarity and vibrancy. Ikko tuned the low ends very well to complement the higher frequencies
Mids –
Vocals sound natural and smooth. There is little coloration to its presentation. There is no emphasis on either male or female vocals. Sivert Hoyem’s voice in Blown Away goes deep and does not sound colored, while Anne Bisson’s voice in Dry My Tears sound sweet, with no audible sharp peaks in “s” or “t” sounds.
Instruments are also presented in a natural manner. There is no peak or emphasis, unlike other BA drivers that I have tested. Aja by Steely Dan plays very smooth and relaxing. The subtle palm mute can still be heard amidst the lot of instruments playing along the chorus.
The Knowles BA does an excellent job of being able to present the mids in a natural manner with no sibilance.
Highs –
Highs extend very well and have great resolution to them, though they are a lot more laid back than the lows and mids. Cymbals have quick decay. Piano keys in this region sound natural. Energetic music doesn’t sound fatiguing because the highs are more relaxed.
Clearly, the OH1 wasn’t made for analytical listening. It has easy-going highs that are less emphasized but extends very well.
Soundstage –
There is more width than depth to the OH1’s soundstage. Horizontal clearance is wide, while vertical clearance is a little bit shallow. Enya’s Orinoco Flowsounds excellent as there are no observable congestion, even though the song is very wide and busy with instruments and vocals overlapping each other.
Imaging –
In Yosi Horikawa’s Letter, every pencil stroke can be felt, as with every page being flipped. Even IV Of Spade’s CLAPCLAPCLAP shows how accurate OH1’s imaging is, with every clap being distinct from each other.
Conclusion:
Even though there are a lot of iems in the 100$ price point, the OH1 can stand out from the rest. This iem is excellent. It has it all; premium packaging, superior build quality, aesthetically pleasing design, amazing fit and comfort, neutrally relaxed tuning. The OH1 is a new entry level midfi that punches way above its price point.
The ikko OH1 is definitely worth more than its price. As an underdog company, ikko did very well in the OH1’s tuning. Their concept of “free hifi” really shines on the OH1.