IKKO OH2 Opal

Ikko Opal OH2: An overlooked gem

Intro

I’m back after being quite busy with university. I had the opportunity to listen to the Ikko Opal OH2, a pair of IEMs that have been on the market for a couple of years. Let's see how this $80 set from Ikko Audio performs.


If you wish to read this review in Spanish, click here

Check out previous reviews here (or in spanish here)


Disclaimers:

• I would like to thank Ikko Audio for providing me with this set for an honest review. You can find the OH2 here: https://www.ikkoaudio.com/products/opal-oh2-iems
• Analysis over 6 days - Sessions of approximately 2 to 4 hours
• All music is lossless (Qobuz > 16bit - 44.1kHz).
• Gear Used: IFI Zen Air Can (AMP) + Fiio E10K (DAC) / TempoTec Sonata HD PRO (dongle)

Unboxing, Build & Comfort







Opal OH2: Its housing is made of a combination of metal and transparent polycarbonate, allowing you to see the PCB inside, which gives it a "futuristic" touch, along with the 8mm driver featuring a nano carbon diaphragm. Its shape is quite peculiar, almost triangular, and it features oval-shaped nozzles, which are not common. Near the top of the triangle, you'll find MMCX type connectors.



Cable: When in use, the cable serves its purpose. However, it is one of the cables that tangles easily when you try to store the IEMs, and it needs to be left stretched for a while to lose its coiled shape. Additionally, it's worth noting that the MMCX connectors easily rotate around the IEMs' connection. This didn't cause them to disconnect from the cable, but I did have to readjust the IEMs every time I used them.



Eartips: It comes with 6 pairs of silicone tips and 3 pairs of foam tips. From my personal experience, I cannot recommend the silicone ones as they provide no seal when used. On the other hand, both the included foam tips and the Saturn tips provided by Ikko Audio offer a good seal, but they do not block external noise to a significant extent.

Pouch: The pouch is beautifully made of faux leather.

Comfort: Ikko has succeeded in making the Opal extremely comfortable IEMs thanks to their ergonomic design. They protrude very little, and I even forgot I had them on when I went skiing. The only minor drawback is that the isolation leaves something to be desired.



Sound Description

As this IEM is not a recent release and considering there are various opinions about its sound, I'll try to be brief about how these sound and quickly jump to a couple of comparisons.



Albums:

• “Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 "Unfinished" & 9 "The Great"” - Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
• “United Alive in Madrid (Live)” - Helloween
• “Sentio” – Martin Garrix
• “Back To Black” – Amy Winehouse
• “Romanza (20th Anniversary Edition / Deluxe)” – Andrea Bocelli
• “<|º_º|>” - Caravan Palace
• “Powerslave” – Iron Maiden
• “25” - Adele
• “Los Abuelos De La Nada 1” – Los Abuelos De La Nada

Sound profile - Credits: https://fahryst.squig.link


Bass

Having listened to many IEMs that follow the Harman curve target, the OH2 pleasantly surprised me by deviating a bit from this paradigm and leaning more towards neutrality, with a slight emphasis on the midbass over the sub-bass. This doesn't mean that the subbass is weak, but it's far from having the best rumble I've heard from a dynamic driver, and it doesn't extend too deeply into the lower regions.

On the other hand, the midbass is punchy and stands out in EDM songs. It's quite suitable for electronic genres and makes kick drums and bass guitar more prominent for those listening to rock or heavy metal.

The quality of both lower spectrums is acceptable for the price, although the driver may fall behind in situations where the bass is executed consecutively.


Mids

The mids are the highlight of the show thanks to the OH2. Both male and female vocals sound silky and without any hint of aggression or artificial metallic tone. Male singers have a slightly weightier presence and stand out a tad more than female voices when singing duets.

The sense of smoothness also extends to certain instruments. Winds like trumpets and clarinets are very pleasant to listen to because the OH2 manages to reproduce them harmoniously, smoothing out their rough edges at the cost of losing some details. However, pianos and electric guitars retain their details intact, with a better-defined texture.

From what I heard in orchestral music, violins have slightly less tactile feel compared to electric guitars, not being as detailed. Nevertheless, I found that in Schubert's works, the coherence among the ensemble of instruments (winds, strings, percussion, etc.) was exceptional and very enjoyable, despite these not being IEMs focused on music analysis.


Treble

The OH2 has high-frequency registers that aim to provide a relatively relaxed listening experience. This can sometimes push cymbals and high-frequency elements into the background and may not be the optimal tuning for people who like to extract every detail from their music, as the microdynamics are not particularly impressive. However, it performs quite well for sessions where you're not looking to scrutinize the sound in-depth. Obviously, having mentioned this, you won't find a great extension in the treble, as the tuning primarily focuses on highlighting the mids.


Soundstage and Imaging

The OH2 favors a deep but relatively narrow three-dimensional soundstage. Surprisingly, this didn't significantly congest the instruments, and they could be heard distinctly during my analysis.



vs Moondrop Aria & Whizzer Kylin HE10



Scores (TL;DR for those who prefer a more concise format)

• Best to worst (left to right)
• More ">" indicates a greater difference
• "=" is used to indicate that the left and right sets are similar in a certain aspect
• “>=” indicates that two IEMs could be similar depending on the song

. Ergonomics: OH2 >> HE10 > Aria

. Driveability: OH2 > Aria > HE10 (the 3 of them are easy to drive)

. Subbass: HE10 > Aria >> OH2

. Bass: OH2 > Aria > HE10

. Mids (Male Vocals): OH2 >= Aria = HE10

. Mids (Female Vocals): HE10 >> OH2 >= Aria

. Mids (Instruments): HE10 = OH2 > Aria

. Treble: Aria >> HE10 >> OH2

. Imaging: Aria >= OH2 > HE10

. Soundstage: Aria >> HE10 >= OH2


As I mentioned in my review of the HE10, the latter and the Aria are not that different, and I found them to be a good point of comparison when evaluating the OH2, even though Ikko's tuning clearly has a different goal. These three sets are all in the $80 USD range.


Credits: https://fahryst.squig.link

In summary, the OH2 focuses much more on highlighting the entire spectrum of mid frequencies (despite a very slight bleed from the midbass). The OH2 presents this frequency range as the most prominent but also harmonious and velvety at the same time. None of the three models excel in detail retrieval in this range, but their performance is adequate for non-analytical listening.

The mid-bass is also a strong point shared with the Aria, with the OH2 having a bit more quantity but similar quality. However, the subbass lags behind considerably compared to the Moondrop and Whizzer models.

The treble on the OH2 is the most relaxed of the three models, so lovers of high-frequency registers should lean more towards the Aria to meet those needs. Having said that, there are also many users who prefer this type of presentation with limited treble extension and a calmer reproduction.

In terms of soundstage, the Aria outperforms the other two, providing the widest and deepest stage, but the OH2 comes very close in terms of imaging and instrument separation.



Conclusion

My time evaluating the Ikko Opal OH2 was extremely enjoyable, and I would recommend them to users looking for a non-fatiguing signature for their everyday music or gaming needs. What prevents me from giving them a higher rating is that, like the Moondrop Aria, their price has not dropped despite being released almost 2 years ago. Technological advancements in the world of audio have reached a point where cheaper IEMs ($50 USD) are on par with these "older" models.

So, this is my first IEM from ikko, I have the cool Breezy Bone conduction headphones, The OH2 was sent to me, and I would like the thank them, as always, my opinions are my own no influences it's how I feel about a product. I test everything stock then I ad tips or cable if needed to my personal taste.
Packaging is very artistic and colorful, inside one finds much more than an average IEM at this price.

They can be found here https://www.amazon.com/Ikko-Monitor...ones/dp/B09KNKX7JS?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

what is in the box :
The OH2 OPAL IEM
A 2 Core MMCX Silver Plated Copper Cable (3.5mm)
leather like Pouch
Foam Eartips (3 Pairs)
Silicone Oval Eartips (6 Pairs)
MMCX / nozzle filter Remover
IKKO Pin
Waifu locker Magnet.



Build Etc.. The Opal is made of mostly metal with some resin in the clear window showing the board inside, I got the green but honestly like all the colors. I'm always a fan when things come in more than the standard colors. They are on the smaller side and were comfortable in my ears for long use and even sleeping. Isolation was good with the foam tips and okay with the stock ones although I had to use a size bigger than normal for me. Ultimately, I decided to use ddhifis bass tips for my personal use. I found the build quality great and love the look.


Sound:

Bass: Bass presents almost Neutral it has good weight and speed but isn't the fastest I've heard in a single Dynamic but still does well with most music. The Mid-Bass is more prominent but Sub-Bass has a decent rumble, but it should be noted this is more of a quality over quantity.

Mids: Midrange presents itself smooth but still detailed, vocals are a little forward and sound natural, with a fair amount of emotion and richness to them. The Mids defiantly are quite good, and they are not sibilant or get shouty in anyway, so they are pleasant no matter the volume level used.
Treble: Is well controlled and sounds smooth but is not without details. However, it does roll of fast and treble sensitive people will appreciate it for a non-fatiguing and safe tuning.

Soundstage Etc: Staging is wide and deep with excellent layering and imaging is accurate even on busy recordings it does well.

Conclusion: The OH2 is a great every day and all-around usage IEM it is neither fatiguing or harsh and its safely tuning might not be for everyone, but I personally like the refreshing signature for a change. It is a great looking, well made and comfortable budget offering in my opinion.

Since many before me have covered the physical aspects of the OH2, I focus on my sound impressions.

You find the whole story at https://www.audioreviews.org/ikko-oh2-review-jk/

Equipment used: Macbook Air, Sony NW-A55, Questyle QP1R;Apogee Groove and Earstudio HUD 100 with JitterBug FMJ; Stock wide-bore tips, JVC Spiral Dots, SpinFit CP500; “normal” filters.

IKKO have tuned the OH2 differently from their other popular models. It is not V-shaped like the OH10 – and it is not as treble extended as the OH1S, although both share the relatively flat frequency response up to 1.5 kHz. As in so many cases, the OH2’s frequency response graph is literally misleading as it leads speculations into the wrong direction.




IKKO OH2’s frequency response.

From a helicopter perspective, the IKKO OH2 is somewhat dry and slightly warm sounding iem. For me, the included IKKO I-Planet foam tips worked best. But foams in combination with my ears always generate a rather dry bass.

And it is rather dry indeed. Sub-bass extension is good, there is plenty of rumble down there, and there is no boomy mid-bass peak. Nevertheless could the bass be tighter – and it probably is with a different tips/ears combination. I’d call the bass typical for mid-price single dynamic-driver iems, but nothing special. It is certainly not the fastest around and can be somewhat blunt in some recordings.

The vocals have very good weight and decent definition, they are not set back, which is an asset at this price tag. There is a small congestion from the hesitant upper midrange (pinna gain is <10 dB) which compresses male and female voices a bit. A tad more energy at around 2 kHz would make them wider and airier. Higher piano and violin notes lack sparkle.

The top rolloff starts already in the upper midrange but becomes dramatic at above 5 kHz. Treble extension is audibly lacking and compromises stage width and overall sparkle/air.

And whilst stage is narrow, it has a good height and depth. Imaging and spatial cues are good and resolution, separation, and layering are average. The OH2’s biggest sonic assets are its note weight and its very natural timbre.




Spot the difference between OH1S and OH2. Hint: it is in the treble.

IKKO OH2 Compared​

The $79 Hidizs MM2 with their exchangeable out vents are more versatile and may have slightly better imaging and staging (more headroom), but I find the OH2 have a better organic reproduction , note weight, and cohesion. Instant wow effect vs. slowly growing likability! I also prefer the OH2’s smaller earpieces for their small design and premium haptic whereas the light yet bulky MM2 shells are reminiscent of the budget KZ fare. I’d say the OH2 appeal more to the older, mature crowd (like me) and the MM2 preferably to teenagers.

The $79 Moondrop Aria, viewed as the dynamic-driver standard below $100, is much faster, brighter, and leaner than the OH2. It is technically cleaner with a better defined low end, a better extended treble, and more width. But it also has an upper midrange glare that may be unpleasant for some. The OH2 is less analytical, warmer, deeper, but also thicker in its performance, it has more “soul” and is more engaging to me. The Moondrop may be the “better” earphone, but the OH2 is more enjoyable to me.

The main question may be how the OH2 compares to the $159 IKKO OH1S? Well the OH1S may be brighter but they benefit from their treble extension, which results in a wider stage and better imaging. They provide more headroom. They also have better note definition and resolution. I’d say the price difference is justified – and I, quite frankly, prefer the OH1S as they are the better iem.

Concluding Remarks​

IKKO iems are totally underrated in the internet’s echo chambers that cultivate herd mentality pushing überhyped yet short-lived products to promote compulsive buying habits. IKKO iems have a long shelf live for a reason.

The IKKO OH2 are the mellow alternative to all these brightish <$100 earphones such as the Moondrop Aria. They impress by their haptic and accessories, which are essentially identical to the OH1S at twice the price. They further have a decent tonality with an intimate midrange and an organic timbre.

The OH2 will appeal to the more mature budget “audiophile”, who cares about substance rather than gimmicks.

To give you my personal perspective: I really like the OH2 a lot – and not only for their sound but also for their handling (the importance of which for daily use is typically undervalued in reviews). But then again, I could say the same about the OH1S and OH10.

Until next time…keep on listening!

Disclaimer​

The OH2 were supplied by IKKO for my analysis and I thank them for that.

Get it from IKKO Audio.

Hi friend, this is my written review on the IKKO OH2 single DD IEM,
first of all, sorry for my broken english since im not native English speaker.

Before i write this review, i want to thank IKKO Audio for sending me these IEM for review purpose, rest assured, this review is 100% my own subjective opinion.

just in case you interested in these IEM after reading this broken English review,
you can get the OH2 from here



what you get in the box :

• IEM
• 2 Core MMCX Silver Plated Copper Cable (3.5mm)
• Pouch
• Foam Eartips (3 Pairs)
• Silicone Oval Eartips (6 Pairs)
• MMCX Remover - Cleanup Tools
• IKKO Brooch
• Fridge Magnet?

Build & Comfort & Aesthetics :



OH2 is surprisingly small in size, the body is made from zinc copper alloy and polycarbonate (plastic) for the transparent part, you can also see the "24K Gold Board" from the plastic window.

IKKO state on the OH2 web page that the 24k gold board help to optimize the microcurrent transmission.

The nozzle have oval shape that in theory can help to reduce pressure on ear canal, it also has removable filters for easy clean-up and also included in the package spare filters just in case you somehow lose the filters.

I forgot to mention the SVAS (Separating Vector Acoustics System) on my video review, if im not mistaken the SVAS helps IKKO achieve this kind of sounds while keeping the IEM size small.

For folks who wonders if normal shape (circle shape) eartips works with the OH2, the answer is YES, you can fit practically any eartips to the oval nozzle of the OH2.

The OH2 fits really well on my big ears, i personally use the "medium large" stock oval eartips and have 0 issues with fitting and comfort, also probably the most important thing, its free from vacuum effect and driver flex.

sound isolation is not the best, probably due to the vented design.

Cable :

specs : 2 Core MMCX Silver Plated Copper Cable (3.5mm)

Cable is thin and light but well constructed, while i personally prefer 2 pin connectors, the mmcx on the cable and OH2 itself (atleast on my unit) seems to be very reliable and well built, it didn't have any wobble or spinning problem, the cable also have minimal microphonics effect if it rubs your clothes.

Since the cable is thin and light, it didn't add unnecessary weight on your ear and is super comfortable.

Sound :
tested using E1DA 9038D dongle dac, Apple Music Lossless, Mostly J-Pop, Anisong, Metal (Trivium, KORN), RAP (Eminem, NWA) Stock Oval Eartips, Stock Cable

overall tonality atleast on my ears it sounds like diffuse-warm / HRTF-ish target tuned

BASS : neutral, non boosted bass quantity, mid bass focused, while the bass quantity is not huge, it has good weight and satisfying impact.
Due to the neutral bass tuning, it won't bleed to the mids at all.
Bass speed is not the speediest one i ever heard from a DD but still usable for double pedal / metal music.

MIDS : THICC, LUSH, somehow the OH2 mids reminds me of the Sennheiser HD580, 650 and 660s series, if you love that cans, there is strong chance that you will also love the OH2.
the mids have a smooth, laidback, "organic" and musical presentation, some who prefers more bright energetic sounds might call it "veiled".

Vocal presentation is NOT too intimate like it sounds from inside your nose / forehead, not shouty, also free from sibilance.
Instrument like piano / violin sounds pretty realistic and meaty.
To put it simply because of my broken english, the mids presentation is really similar to HD650 - 660s and i really love it.

TREBLE : Smooth, non offensive treble, but still have some air so overall tuning is not too thicc / dark.
Treble presentation from these sets really reminds me of the Starfield from Moondrop,
the treble mostly focused on the lower - mid treble, there is noticeable smoothing on the higher treble.
cymbal crashes might sound tad recessed but is really enjoyable for long listening session, i even use the OH2 while i nap

Technicalities :

Stage : on the small side, kinda large for diffuse / HRTF-ish tuned IEM, not claustrophobic, have symmetric shape in terms of depth and width size.

Imaging : vocal and object have some sense of physicality, not mindblowingly holographic, but not 2D either. For the asking price of $80 USD, its completely acceptable or i dare to say its great for the price.

Separation : not razor sharp separation, but definitely not congested on busy part of tracks.

Positioning : tested using FPS games (Apex Legends, CSGO) i have 0 issues pinpointing exact steps location, heck, it perform better than my logitech G435 gaming headset

Detail Retrieval : not the best detail extractor, not trying to punch above its price, sounds just like IEM on its price class (Aria, Starfield)

Comparison :
Moondrop Aria : tuned more to the harman modified by Moondrop (VDSF Target), definitely have more BASS and Treble compared to the OH2, Aria have more leaner mids, Aria treble presentation is noticeably have metallic timbre compared to the OH2.

Moondrop Starfield : also tuned to VDSF Target by Moondrop, the Starfield also have thicc mids like OH2, but it also has more BASS than OH2, treble presentation is really similar, but Starfield atleast on my ears sounds more grainy than the OH2.

technicality of the Aria and Starfield is really close to OH2 so i won't elaborate any further.

Tanchjim OLA : not a fair comparison price wise TBH, but i will mention it since both have HRTF / diffuse-ish tuning.
OLA have more leaner bass and mids and analytical presentation compared to OH2.

OLA have more extended treble, but dry presentation, OLA if compared directly a-b to OH2, OLA sounds more like a tools to monitor / mix rather than to enjoy your music and relax.
technicalities of OH2 is noticeably better on all aspects even with its smooth / rolled-off treble presentation.

Conclusion :
If you search for an IEM that have somehow similar presentation to the Sennheiser HD580, 650, 660s series, with its THICC mids sound with only fraction of it's price, there is strong chance that you will love the OH2.
For $80USD, the price is definitely justified for its sounds, packaging, and accessories that you get in the package.

Myself personally really love the OH2 and these IEM definitely will be my every day carry item (EDC) because of its lush, thicc, smooth presentation.

thanks for reading !
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you can find this review in video here (Bahasa Indonesia)

After some time away from my review desk and a series of mini reviews, I am finally back to my normal set up and it is time to start making my way through a few things that have piled up while I was away.

The first on the list is the Ikko OH02 Opal, a set of IEMs that has been kindly sent to me by Hifigo in exchange for me publishing this review. As usual, the only request has been that I include links to the IEMs via their website, therefore my review will aim to be as unbiased as possible, although it is always good to consider the fact that these IEMs have not cost me anything.

You can find the (non-affiliate) links to the Opal by visiting the version of this review published on my blog here.



Presentation…

Starting off with how these IEMs arrive, I must say that the packaging and contents are quite impressive and are certainly original, moving away from the usual way in which IEMs in these ranges are usually presented.

The box itself is large and colourful, as you can see in the image above, with a sleeve that has a shaped cutout to allow the artwork to show.

Inside the box we get the IEMs, as is to be expected, placed in a foam cutout that also includes an Ikko branded pin in a combination of gold an black. Personally I have no use for a pin but I always mention unexpected contents and I don’t think I have ever received a pin with a set of IEMs before.

Also in the box we get a cable, which I quite like except for the black covering for the pre moulded ear shape (which detracts from the nice aesthetics of the cable in my opinion) and the fact that they use MMCX connectors. To be honest, the MMCX connectors seem to be of good quality and look like they will last fairly well, but I guess MMCX is just a personal phobia of mine.

Also included is a leather (imitation?) carrying pouch that is also different to any other pouch or case I have received in the past. It is actually more of a pouch that I would use for other things more than IEMs, and is closed by means of a leather string that wraps around the pouch. I can’t say that it is a great solution for IEMs but again, they deserve points for originality.

The last thing to mention as far as contents, other than the documentation that is in a nicely branded envelope, a couple fo replacement filters and a cleaning/MMCX extraction tool, is the amount of tips included. There are a lot. I don’t think that this is the most tips I have ever received but it is certainly the largest selection of uncommon tips I have received. As the nozzles are oval in shape (I’ll mention more about that in a moment), there is also a large selection of oval shaped tips included, with one set that is possibly the largest I have ever seen, along with a selection of hybrid foam/silicone tips. In total there are 9 sets of tips, so there should be something for everyone, well, maybe everyone except me, more on that in the next section.



Build and aesthetics…

As far as build quality, while all plastic (or at least I think they are all plastic), they do seem to be decently made and I see no issues with the build at all.

In terms of aesthetics, in my opinion they are also good looking. The set I have received are a dark green colour, with a small transparent green tinted window that shows a circuit board below. As with the packaging, the aesthetics are original enough to be different but without being so off the wall to look strange.

When it gets to comfort, here I wasn’t quite as lucky, at least with the included tips. As the nozzles are oval, as I mentioned above, they have also included oval shaped tips. In my case, no matter which way I tried to orientate the tips, and no matter which size, I never felt that I could get a proper seal and they never felt overly comfortable. The result with some of the other tips was better but still not something that I enjoyed too much. In the end, I opted for Azla Crystal tips and these solved the issue of seal but I still didn’t find them overly comfortable.

The angle of the nozzle just seems to be a mm or two away from matching my ear anatomy and I always feel like they are putting pressure on the front of my ear canal. I will say that they are very light though, so there is no sense of fatigue from weight, even after long sessions of many hours, just that little issue with the pressing on my canal.

Obviously we all have different ears and this is only an issue for me personally, I imagine that these will be extremely comfortable for most people.



Sound…

As we are back to my normal review format, I will mention that, as with all of my normal reviews, each track mentioned is a clickable link that will allow you to open the song in the streaming service of your choice. The measurement of these IEMs can also be compared with any other IEMs I have reviewed here: https://achoreviews.squig.link

Starting, as usual, from the lowest ranges, the Opal have quite a roll off in the subbass, however, due to a fairly boosted midbass range, they never seem to be lacking in the low end. If isolating the lowest notes, then yes, the roll off is noticeable, but I can’t say that it is something that I notice while listening normally.

Into the midbass, here there is a boost that does make itself the centre of attention in the low end. The mid bass is controlled fairly well and actually works ok for a lot of modern pop music, such as “Get Lucky”, but when moving to more acoustic focused music, I feel that the midbass focus makes it seem a little unnatural. Even with electrical based instruments as the focus but with simple songs, such as “Crazy”, I find that it is a little too present. In the case of this specific song, it causes a sensation of reverb in the midbass of the electric guitar and I can’t say that it sounds very natural.

Moving into the mids, there really isn’t too much bleed due to the fact that the midbass is fairly well controlled, meaning that while it is very present, it doesn’t interfere too much with the mid range. There is a slight dip in the centre of the mids and while the higher midrange doesn’t climb as much as it does on many other set, the vocals stay present for the most part.

I say for the most part as, depending on the instruments in play, the midbass boost can become a little overpowering and make the voices suffer a little to be present on certain tracks. This is something that I experienced on a lot of hip hop, such as “Bang Bang” for example, where that midbass can make the instrumental sound impressive but make the vocals seem to struggle.

One thing I will say is that voices do not come across as harsh, even “Don’t You Worry Child” is quite smooth in the vocal range (a track that I find harsh on a very large selection of IEMs).

Moving into the treble, there is actually quite a decent job done in this area to compensate for that midbass boost and not make the overall sound seem dark. There are occasions on which I find certain tracks to also be a little unnatural in the higher ranges but in general I feel that a good job was done to balance out the highs with the lows without becoming overly harsh in the upper ranges either.

The sensation of air and spaciousness is not bad, considering the low end boost, and while the soundstage is not large, more towards intimate I would say, it still doesn’t seem too cluttered, with things having space to breathe.

Last of all, detail. I don’t think that these can be considered highly detailed IEMs, yet they still manage to give a sensation of everything being in its place. I wouldn’t pick up these IEMs to find small nuances but at the same time, I feel that they can be enjoyed without the sensation of things missing.



Conclusion…

The Ikko Opal OH02 is its own thing. From the packaging, to the aesthetics, to the sound, everything is different to normal but not so different it is “off the wall”.

As far as sound, it’s like an IEM that manages to be V shaped without actually being V shaped. Depending on your choice in music, that midbass boost will either be very impressive or irritating. If you enjoy vocals on hip-hop, or on bass heavy RnB, then that midbass does get in the way. I also feel it can be problematic with some of the simpler vocal/instrument tracks. However, when moving to more modern pop, it can actually be the opposite and work quite well.

At a price of less than 80€, I feel that you are getting a good deal on these IEMs considering everything you get, but the sound signature will not be for everyone. They by no means sound bad, they are just different, and whether that difference is for you, only you can decide.

As always, this review can also be found in Spanish both on my blog (here) and on YouTube (here).

IKKO Audio put themselves on the map with the release of the OH1 and OH10 IEMs. They have a distinct design language throughout their product range which helps them stand out in the crowded marketplace. IKKO OH2 are the newest entry in their IEM lineup and aim to capture a piece of the over-crowded sub-USD$100 budget IEM landscape. Buyers are spoilt for choices in this range, so IKKO needs something special to truly entice.

This review was originally published on Headphonesty. HiFiGo was kind enough to provide the IKKO OH2 for evaluation.

Click to expand...

Accessories​

IKKO nailed the unboxing experience. The box is colorful and comes with extras like a magnetic anime figurine and a fox-themed brooch.




In general, the accessories are of good quality, with two caveats: the oval tips, and certain aspects of the stock cable. The oval tips did not give me a good seal, so I had to switch to the foam tips – which are excellent – some of the best foam tips I’ve tried to date.

The silver-plated, single-crystal copper cable has two cores, a rather stiff sheathing, and annoying memory hooks. Add the mmcx connectors that rotate too easily and it’s not the best stock cable in this range.



The carrying case is a bit cumbersome to handle and doesn’t have extra chambers to hold the tips or the cleaning tool. Form over function.

Build​

The OH2 have a unique shell, with the internal PCB itself being part of the design language. A transparent polycarbonate window is sandwiched between two pieces of anodized aluminum. The sides of the driver and the PCB are visible through the transparent bit.



There is one vent on the inner-side of the IEMs and another on the faceplate. The nozzle has an oval shape, similar to the Beyerdynamic Xelento IEMs. I haven’t found any practical benefit of this nozzle shape so I have my doubts about the claims of better pressure-relief.



The earpieces are light and very comfortable to wear for long sessions. However, isolation is merely average with the stock silicone tips as seal is an issue.

The OH2s use an 8mm “deposited-carbon” diaphragm driver. This usually indicates a carbon-nanotube deposited (via physical vapor-deposition process) PET driver that has higher stiffness than typical PET diaphragms.

Sound​

The following sound impressions are formed with stock foam tips, stock cable, and Sony NW-A55 as the source. Test tracks are available on Tidal as a playlist. Measurements conducted on an IEC-711 compliant rig.

Click to expand...

The IKKO OH2 have a warm, somewhat laid-back tuning. The mid-bass throws a veil across the entire lower-mids region, resulting in a warm but recessed midrange. The lack of treble sparkle or energy further enhances the sense of smoothness, at times at the expense of engagement.

Moreover, the driver is not very fast or resolving in the bass region, resulting in a longer decay of bass notes. This makes fast bass-lines blur into each other, such as double-pedals in many metal tracks. On the other hand, heavy snare hits have a satisfying impact, which is more suitable for rock music.

Slight lower-mid recession (by about 3dBs), mid-bass prominence, and a reserved upper-mid rise result in a veiled midrange. Subtle low-level details like the deep understroke of the piano on Radwimp’s Date are lost. The reserved upper-mid rise is a welcome change though, as too much focus here would make things shouty.

The highs are rolled-off and are rarely felt. A peak around 5kHz adds some life into the presence region but then it downturns. There is a lack of airiness up top as well, which becomes evident when listening to the triangles on Dave Matthews Band’s Crash Into Me.

The soundstage is very much in-your-head. Imaging is also two-dimensional with everything placed left or right. Macrodynamic punch is softened, which reduces the dramatic impact of sudden bass drops, for example. Microdynamics are also merely average with subtle gradations in volumes not being picked up.

Comparison vs Moondrop Aria​

Moondrop Aria (reviewed here) are one of the benchmarks in the under USD$100 bracket, warranting a comparison with the IKKO OH2.

In terms of build, it’s hard to pick a winner. The OH2 look more futuristic, whereas the Aria have a more traditional look.

In terms of sound, the Aria go for a more sub-bass focused tuning with superior rumble and better bass texture. The mid-bass can feel anemic at times on the Aria, where the OH2 fare better. Lower-mids are similarly recessed on both, with equally restrained upper-mids.

However, the Aria have more energy in the treble and a wider stage, with a tad better imaging. Macrodynamic punch is also superior on the Aria, whereas both suffer in terms of microdynamics.

Overall, the Moondrop Aria have a similarly smooth signature that doesn’t skimp on treble as much as the OH2 do.

Conclusion​

In a vacuum, the IKKO OH2 are good IEMs. It’s too bad that the competition are stronger than ever and manage to excel in multiple aspects where the OH2 are merely adequate overall.


The bass response is good, but it could be better. The midrange is fairly well-tuned, but lacks the engagement factor some of their peers offer. Meanwhile, the treble is too smoothed over to bring anything to the table.


IKKO OH2 don’t stand out, and being average is just not good enough anymore.

INTRODUCTION:

IKKO, the brand based out of China is a well known brand established among the audiophiles providing some excellent value for money products like the OH10 and the Oh1. Both the predecessors being V shaped monsters specialised in the Bass and Staging the brand decided to start a new path for their lineup and that's the OH2. In this review let's check out how this performs against their own lineup and against the competitors.



SPECIFICATIONS:

Diaphragm type: Deposited carbon nano diaphragm
Material: Metallic+High-transparent polycarbonate
Sound Signature: Balanced
Impedance: 32 Ω
Sensitivity: 100dB
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz
Cable Details: High purity OFC silver-plated cable
Connecter: MMCX
Jack Type : 3.5mm

DISCLAIMER:
This unit has been provided to me as a part of the review circle hence I have not been influenced by the brand to manipulate this review. The whole review is based on my pairings and sources hence it might differ from person to person.
If you are interested in purchasing this product please go through via this unaffiliated link: https://hifigo.com/products/ikko-oh02

DESIGN AND FIT:

The whole construction is made out of metal with some transparent resin for part of the faceplate. They are available in varied colours and look fancy too. The design is triangle shaped and it's pretty small in size. Even though they are pretty compact they don’t fit the ear comfortably since the seal and the stability out of this earphone is not that great.

The eartips provided are pretty poor and the inner ear design language is pretty poor too hence the seal is weaker and stability is less. The whole paint is a matte textured hence no more fingerprints.



The connector area is the MMCX and it's pretty loose in terms of rotation when compared to the competition. They swivel easily which is not a major concern but still a thing to notice.

The provided stock cable is pretty nice but definitely not great. The cable is pretty thin and the texture is nice and soft but needs some thickness to feel the premiumness.

SOUND:

The sound of the OH2 is pretty unique when compared to the sound of their previous iteration of products. Their previous products are the OH10 and the OH1 and both were pretty great in terms of sound and design language. The OH2 has a pretty neutral sound with noticeable roll off in the bass and the treble section.

The tonality has been kept as natural as possible but has a slight hint of brightness. Overall a smoother sounding and musical set of earphones which is pretty easy on the ears to listen to. Let’s check out in detail in this review.

BASS:

The bass in the OH2 is pretty light and neutral. The quality is pretty great where the bass here has nice control, texture and speed while it lacks the quantity hence the bass overall appears tamed out a lot.

Neutral sound lovers would appreciate the bass here due to its faster, lighter and detailed low end section. The speed is pretty fast hence the sub bass rumble is too subtle in this. The mid bass is good but not weighty or punchier. Rather the bass is more mature, technical and neutral oriented.

The kick drums and the bass oriented instruments have a nice tone but lack the presence thus making the sounds less authoritative. The separation and the detail retrieval in the low end is in the moderate spectrum while the clean and textured bass is on the higher spectrum giving a nice audiophile grade experience.

The bass here is in contrast with that of the previous product the OH10 where the OH10 is a pure bass monster while the OH2 is a light headed. The bass heads would definitely have a bad impression towards this product but the neutral sided bass would give a chance to you to explore the other side of the sea.



MID RANGE:

The mid range here is the ultimate star show here where the tonality is neutral to bright but for the most part they are pretty natural. The vocals are very melodious with a nice smoother sound overall. The presentation is nice where it's neither too forward nor too laidback. The instruments in the background are kept in a nice position hence no noticeable recession of the frequency is seen.

The piano notes and the kick drums sound really good with some nice attack and decay. The notes sound moderately fuller and it could have been better if the mid bass presence had more weight and punch. The layering and the instrument separation in the mid range feels very nice with some great placement of the instruments. The staging is slightly intimate on the side when compared to that of the OH10 where the predecessor is a staging king with expansive width.

Overall the midrange is pretty natural with musical tonality, nice vocal placement and instrument separation . The detail retrieval is pretty good except the staging being not that big. The mid range is the excellent aspect of this earphone and it's the most praised frequency in this IEM.

TREBLE:

The treble is tuned for a smoother listening with less fatigue over longer listening sessions. The treble is rolled off pretty noticeable thus if you are expecting some serious detail retrieval then this is not the set you are expecting. Both the upper and the lower treble section is not that exaggerated to provide that non fatiguing listen.

The cymbal crashes and the guitar strings sound really nice with nice tonality and timbre. The brighter tone of the instruments gives that nice sparkle but yet still the treble feels less extended overall. The attack and decay of the instruments like the cymbals are pretty fast hence they appear more subtle and less emphasized.

The instrument separation and the detail retrieval are average since the treble section is not the great aspect of this earphone. Overall the treble is a perfect choice for persons out there looking for a smoother and a non fatiguing treble without compromising much loss in the details.



TECHNICALITIES:

STAGING: The staging is pretty good but definitely not the best when compared to the beast like the OH10. The staging is neither too intimate nor that big. Instead they are average at best with both sort of noticeable compression and cramped out staging. The instruments are nicely spread out with a good sense of space.

IMAGING: The imaging is pretty neat here due to that nice clear bass presence. The layering is done well too. The instruments can be easily pointed out even when the complex tracks are replayed out. The transient response feels pretty nice and smooth and the channel sweep also felt adequately smoother.

The instrument separation and the detail retrieval are average at best but not worst too. They are pretty good for the price but definitely need some improvement in those aspects. If the treble section had been emphasized then these aspects would have got some real improvements.

VERDICT:

OH2, the latest offering from the house of IKKO is a pretty good deal from them. The package is a well rounded one covering all the aspects. From the design to the sound, the opal has done it again!

The design language is pretty creative with a metal construction and a transparent resin for some part of the faceplate to give that modern and creative look making visible the golden circuit board. The fit could have been better since they are not that comfortable in terms of seal and stability. Overall a pretty good design language but with some space for the improvements on the table.

Coming to the sound, they are pretty new to the brand since this has a neutral sound signature which is a contrast to the predecessors namely the OH10 and the OH1. A different taste of music has been given to the OH2 and does please the neutral lovers out there. The bass and the treble is very light and has a noticeable roll off while the midrange takes up the stage by giving some musical tonality and well placed instruments. Above average technicalities for the price where the detail retrieval could have been better if the treble has been emphasized a bit.

Overall the OH2 is a product which complements their other two products very well in terms of sound which is a good thing from a brand to cover all the customers out there to match up their interests. Is this a good buy? If you are a neutral and a midrange loving person expecting it to be in the design language of Ikko then this is the product you need to add in your cart.!

IKKO Audio is a well-established brand in China. They are mostly known for their HiFi in-ear monitors with multiple successful models under their name. They came into the limelight with the OH10 and OH1 IEMs released back in 2019. I personally loved both the OH10 and OH1, they both have a fun and engaging sound with elevated bass and a wide soundstage. Not only IEMs, IKKO has experience in designing USB DAC/AMPs too. Although today, I am here with one of their latest single dynamic driver in-ear monitors, the IKKO OH2. OH2 comes at a really competitive price point of 79$ where we have plenty of different IEMs from different brands. My favorite in this segment is the same priced Moondrop Aria. So has the OH2 taken the place of Aria in my recommendations of best under 100$?? Let’s find out with this blog today.

Disclaimer:-

I received the OH2 from HiFiGo as a part of a review tour organized here in my country by them. Rest assured all impressions in this blog are completely my own, they might be influenced by my personal preference for the sound that would be balanced with a slight boost in the sub-bass region. Would like to thank HiFiGo for this audition tour, you can purchase it from the link below or by clicking here. It's also available on their amazon store from here.
https://hifigo.com/products/ikko-oh02

About IKKO OH2:-

OH2 is the latest product from IKKO Audio designed beautifully with a single dynamic driver configuration. The pair is said to have a newly designed carbon dynamic driver with their patented SVAS(Separating Vector Acoustics System) acoustic cavity technology. It comes priced attractively at just 79$.

I received the pair without its retail package, so I will be coming directly on to the design and build of the pair. But before that here’s what I received in the package.

Package contents:-

>The pair itself(I got golden color).

>Six pairs of silicone tips in different sizes.

>Three pairs of memory foam ear tips again in different sizes.

>A leather carry case.

>An MMCX cable with 3.5mm single-ended termination.

Design and Build Of IKKO OH2:-

IKKO has designed compact and small ear shells for the OH2. They are not just compact, but also are extremely light in weight. This is new for IKKO I would say, the previous IKKO IEMs that I tried were OH1 and OH10, both of which featured heavy metallic shells. The overall design for the OH2 cavities is beautiful. The shells are made up of solid PolyCarbonate material with metallic coverings at the faceplate and the inner side. There’s an IKKO logo printed on the faceplate. Metallic covering at the faceplate does not cover the entire face area, small portion at the bottom is transparent through which the internal PCB board is visible. There’s an air pressure vent at the inner side of the shells. The pair has MMCX connectors located at the top of the cavities. Though the shape of the nozzle is oval, I am pretty sure our regular ear tips won’t fit on the OH2. But thankfully, IKKO Audio ships plenty of good quality tips both Silicone and Foam with the pair. IKKO OH2 looks beautiful, it is available in multiple color options. The golden one that I have in my hands right now is spectacular.

The included cable here also looks very well built. It has a metallic casing around the termination plug and Y-splitter. The chin slider here is also metallic matching the tone of the Y-splitter. The MMCX connectors are angled with black memory covering near them. Overall, a very nice cable that doesn’t show any microphonic issues, or tangling issues.

Fit & Noise Isolation:-

IKKO OH2, as I said earlier has a compact form factor and lightweight design. There are no issues in terms of fit with the pair. The huge set of ear tips also allows one to find the perfect pair for good isolation. I found OH2 to give me very good passive isolation, cutting down the surrounding sounds effectively. Although I would like to add here, due to the compact form factor, people with large ears might get issues in isolation. I would recommend using a tad bit larger Eartips for this.

Sound Impressions:-

IKKO OH2 has got a fun and engaging sound profile. It has a warm and balanced sound with an impactful lower end and a smooth, pleasing midrange. Vocals on the OH2 are very good. They show clean texture and a very attractive warmer than natural tone. Both male and female vocals have a full-bodied presentation, you won’t notice them getting lean or harsh or shouty at all. Treble region is played safe here, it is smooth and nicely-toned for a pleasing presentation. OH2 never loses its clarity throughout the frequency range, it never goes sibilant or fatiguing. Simply said, a very pleasing and enjoyable set Ikko has tuned here. Although, OH2 lacks extensions at both the ends of the frequency spectrum. Bass and Treble both roll off early, but I would say the pleasing tone and smooth presentation make it a really enjoyable set. Now, on to the different frequencies.

Lower-End/Bass:-

OH2 has got a pretty punchy lower end. Mid-bass has got powerful slams that show a quick decay too. The speed of the lower end with the OH2 is quite good, the pair sounds precise and accurate. Sub-bass has got good rumble too. But as I said earlier due to the lack of extensions in the lower end, the Sub-bass doesn’t go too deep and could have been improved. Apart from that, OH2 has got a good punch in the lower end.

Midrange:-

Midrange on the OH2 has got a very slight recessed presentation. It retains good clarity for both acoustic instruments in the lower mids and vocals in the upper mids. Vocals with the OH2 are very nice. They have a clean texture, have a slightly warmer than natural tone. They make the pair sound pleasing, bringing vocals full of life for the listener. I liked the Vocal presentation on the OH2. They are not shouty, neither they sound sibilant even at loud volumes.

Treble:-

Treble on the OH2, as I said earlier, is tuned in a safe manner. It rolls off early in the upper treble region, has no noticeable peaks or sharpness. I would say a little bit of extra sparkle or energy in the treble region would have made the OH2 a perfect pair. Though I would say, it delivers a good performance with decent macro and micro-detail retrieval.

Soundstage, Layering, Imaging, & Instrument Separation:-

OH2 performs decently in the dynamics department. The soundstage is wide with decent details for instruments. Imaging is good and so is the layering of the instruments. Instrument separation is clean and detailed. For the price point, the OH2 performs amazingly well.

A small comparison, Moondrop Aria Vs IKKO OH2:-

I had the Moondrop Aria last year. It’s a pretty good single dynamic driver IEM like the OH2 here. Here’s my take between these two. (Aria impressions are from my previous experience with the pair where I owned it for approx 2-3 months and made some notes too). The image is also from my archives.

>Moondrop Aria produces better extensions at both the corners of the frequency spectrum.

>OH2 produces a more pleasing, warm, and balanced sound profile.

>OH2 Vocals are better, they are better bodied, better textured too.

>Aria Soundstage is wider among the two, depth is average with both of them.

>Aria had better isolation too.

>OH2 has got a smoother overall presentation, aria on the other hand has got a more analytical approach among the two.

Final Words:-

IKKO OH2 is a lovely set that delivers an enjoyable sound experience at a very attractive price point. If you are looking for a pair you can use on day-to-day casual usage with a smooth and lively presentation, the OH2 won’t disappoint. It shares the position of one of my favorite IEMs under 100$ alongside Aria.

Introduction:
IKKO is a company that hails from China that got known for their debut product OH1 Meteor. They launched it some years ago and it was a hit in the portable audiophile community due to its unique but beautiful design and fun sound signature. Today, IKKO still only has one lineup for their in-ear monitors which is the OH series. The most recent product in the lineup is the OH2, which currently retails for 79 USD. The OH2 was provided to me for free by HiFiGO in exchange for this review.

International purchase link (HiFiGO's website)
International purchase link (Amazon)

Specifications:
Driver unit: 8 mm dynamic, carbon diaphragm
Impedance: 32 ohms
Sensitivity: 105 dB
Frequency response range: not specified

Source:
Poco X3, Redmi Note 10 Pro paired with Cayin RU6, FiiO KA3, Tempotec Sonata E35 and Zishan U1

Test tracks:
Africano - Earth Wind and Fire
Dark Necessities - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Gurenge - Lisa
The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
Monsters - All Time Low
Ours - Taylor Swift
Stay - Mayday Parade
Snuff - Slipknot
Yesterday Once More - Carpenters
So Slow - Freestyle
Aurora Sunrise - Franco
Attention - Pentatonix
Blue Bird - Ikimono-gakari
You're Still The One - Shania Twain
Anyone Who Knows What Love Is(Will Understand) - Irma Thomas
Salamin - Slapshock
AOV - Slipknot
Hey Jude - The Beatles
The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
...and a lot more.

Unboxing and Accessories:
The OH2 comes in a medium sized rectangular box with a white sleeve that doesn't go all the way through. Attached on the front is this lady figure that can also act as a refrigerator magnet. Removing the sleeve and the colorful top lid will reveal the OH2 earphones resting on a thick, dense white foam. Attached to the nozzles are plastic pull tabs to lift the earpieces more easily. Below is a gold and black colored IKKO branded button or pin which can be attached to clothes. This and the magnetic lady are pretty unique inclusions for an in-ear monitor. Underneath, there are six pairs of weird looking oval shaped silicone eartips and three pairs of foam eartips. There is another box that contains the cable, and a leather pouch that contains a plastic tool that aids in removal of MMCX connectors, and replacement pair of plastic filters for the nozzle. There is also an envelope the contains the instruction manual and warranty card.

Build:
The shells are a mixture of metal with matte finish and polycarbonate plastic. The faceplate sports the IKKO branding. Right beside it is an oval shaped vent. Right away, it can be seen through the translucent plastic that there is a printed circuit board inside the shell. First thing that will come to anyone's mind is that it's a crossover, a piece of circuitry used to divide the workload of frequencies when an in-ear monitor has multiple drivers. It is not the case. The OH2 only has a single dynamic driver, and this board, according to IKKO, "optimizes the microcurrent which improves the transmission rate more effectively. The OH2 is also equipped with IKKO's self developed SVAS or Separating Vector Acoustic System which is a specific design in the cavity of the shell that supposedly improves the overall sound. At the back part of the shell, there is another vent. The nozzles are relatively short and oval shaped. It has a lip to lock eartips in place and a plastic filter to keep dirt out.

The cable is a 2-core twisted high purity oxygen-free silver plated copper with visible blue and red lines. It is partially stiff and prone to tangling, but very minimal microphonics. The male MMCX connectors are made of plastic, while 5he splitter, chin slider, and 3.5 mm gold plated plug are all made of metal.

Now let's get to the sound.

Lows:
The lows have an almost neutral presentation with the subbass having slight emphasis. Subbass is slightly forward and has a slightly below average depth accompanied by a moderately quick decay. The weight and impact of the midbass is just average, and positioned in a way that allows the subbass to come through.

Overall, the lows of the OH2 has that inoffensive yet effective characteristic. Midbass texture is nice and clean, and the amount of rumble is good but for my liking, the subbass can use a bit more depth.

Mids:
The mids are partially pushed to the front. Upper and lower mids are generally equal in terms of thickness and positioning, but on some tracks, the upper mids can sound very, very slightly elevated; noticeable on electric guitars. Vocals have great clarity and there's a good amount of air in between instruments.

Overall, soothing is the best word that I can use to describe the mids of the OH2. Every note is in harmony, and that slight elevation in the upper mids does not cause any aggressiveness at all.

Highs:
The highs are full-bodied and dynamic. Treble is well extended and able to reach great heights. Decay is on the average side. Upper treble is somewhat accentuated compared to the lower treble giving extra sparkle to the instruments.

Overall, the OH2 does a good job of reproducing energetic highs without going over the top. Sibilance may occur on naturally sibilant tracks but it is pretty tame on most tracks.

Soundstage and Imaging:
The OH2 has an averagely sized stage. The height has the same amount of space as the width. The clarity on the imaging is really good as well as the layering and separation of instruments, especially for the price of these. Congestion is very minimal even in busy tracks.

Comparisons:
IKKO OH2 (1 DD, 79 USD) vs. NF Audio NM2 (1 DD, 99 USD)
The NM2 is a lot easier to drive than the OH2. The NM2 has a smoother texture in the lows and has deeper subbass reach, while the amount of rumble seems to be equal. Midbass on the NM2 is a tad thicker and more forward. There is a tiny margin but the mids on the OH2 is more upfront. The NM2 has better articulation in the instruments and cleaner sounding vocals. With the highs, the OH2 has slightly better reach but they are equal in the decay. Soundstage is bigger on the NM2. The width only has a small difference but the height is noticeably more spacious in the NM2. The NM2 also has more clarity in the imaging, as well as better instrument separation.

IKKO OH2 (1DD, 79 USD) vs. TinHiFi T3 Plus (1 DD, 69 USD)
They are very similar in the lows. The T3 Plus just has more depth in the subbass, while the midbass is very slightly thicker in the OH2. Mids are also really close. The T3 Plus has a bit more warmth in the vocals, and more open sounding instruments. The biggest difference is in the highs. The OH2 shines more and is able to present more details. The OH2 also has slightly longer decay, while the T3 Plus is a bit softer sounding in the lower treble. Imaging is also close, but the T3 Plus has slightly better transparency. Separation of instruments and layering are just about the same.

Conclusion:
IKKO did their homework on this one. They were able to put up something fresh, both inside with the included printed circuit board and Separating Vector Acoustic System that improves the overall sound, and outside with the uniquely designed shell. Although it's a personal issue, I must say that the included eartips look very weird especially the large ones, and none of them gave me a good fit. But then again, it's nice to see another in-ear monitor having an all-rounder type of signature in this price segment.

Introduction:
Ikko is a Chinese company founded in 2019. Its innovative spirit and commitment to the idea of 'Audio Freedom' and high fidelity have enabled it to win Japan's top visual and Audio VGP award for 3 consecutive years. It is the first Chinese company to win the Japanese VGP award for its entire product line.

Its new IEM OH2 comes with IKKO patented SVAS(Separating Vector Acoustic System) that enables the IEM to achieve precise volume output in a limited space. The looks of this IEM are in line with IKKO's signature style of elegance and innovation. It comes in 5 colors- Purple, White, Gold, Gray, and Green. The small triangular shell is easy on the eyes as it is on the ears. The shell is a beautiful amalgamation of chrome lining, a transparent section next to chrome along with a matte finish faceplate. The final result is breathtaking.

It is bundled with a high purity OFC silver-plated cable with MMCX 0.78mm detachable design. The package also has a leather pouch to carry the IEM easily.



Disclaimer:
I have received as part of the review circle sent from Hifigo in exchange for honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my listening and my sources and are based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range. One can purchase the following IEM from:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KZMW43P/ikko+oh02/
https://hifigo.com/products/ikko-oh02

Sources:
For this review, the unit has been paired to Hiby RS6 without any other amplification.



Highs:
The treble hits my favorite tuning. It's relaxing and smooth and has a bit of dark touch to it. Treble is very soothing and tamed, but has a decent sparkle in it to keep one engaging. The level of details is very good and creates an overall enjoyable atmosphere.



Mids:
The mid-range is very well tuned in ikko OH2, there is a slight hint of warmth and the presence factor is very good. The bass tuning complements the mid-range very well and brings out the necessary weight to the notes creating an overall musical tonality. There is an organic touch to vocals and the instruments sound fuller.



Lows:
This is not at all bass-oriented IEM, but it does a very decent job in the bass department. The bass response is mostly concentrated towards mid-bass. The physicality of bass is not missing at all. There is a minor bleed that can be observed from transitions from mid-bass towards the lower mid-range. There is an early roll-off for the sub-bass region. For a bass lover, it may lack a certain depth and punch but for a mid-range lover, it packs a decent amount of mid-bass rumble to satisfy the needs.



Technicalities:
There is a decent sense of separation and imaging is also quite good. The soundstage performance is also decent with quite a good width. The height and depth are a bit average and give an overall intimate feel to the signature which compliments the overall tuning.



Final Verdict:
Ikko OH2 provides a very good price to performance ratio for a single dynamic driver. It’s a perfect balance of aesthetics and performance. The mid-range performance is quite good and is a very enjoyable and musical pair of IEMs. Overall tonality is a bit neutralish and has a musical touch to it. I loved the soothing dark treble response it gave along with the decent technical performance.

Disclaimer : The unit was sent by Hifigo as a part of a review tour but all thoughts and opinions are my own. You can purchase the OH2 from Hifigo here and Amazon here.

Build and Fit
The faceplate looks rather uncommon, being half metal and half see-through plastic. The shell is majorly made out of metal though. Build is good enough for an earphone of 80 USD price tag.
The included cable is surprisingly of good quality although a bit rubbery. It is a lightweight earphone and overall comfort is really good.




Amp Needs
At 32 ohm, 100dB/mW, no external amplifier is needed.

Sound Quality
OH2's general tonal character is mid-centric. The midrange is emphasized and is also presented forward. Given some time I totally grew into the mids, it is smooth and natural sounding, very pleasurable. There is a hint of midbass bloom which becomes apparent on good recordings, but it is only a small niggle. This midbass bloom also adds thickness to the sound. The midrange is really the strongest aspect of the OH2. Speaking of bass, unfortunately the bass does not extend much below, and it doesn't have much bass in quantity either. This is definitely not for bassheads. The story is same with the treble region- OH2 does not have much extension up top and can sound slightly closed in and lacking air, which it does. I would say that it has been tuned to be safe, playing more or less fine with all kinds of music.
The lack of air in the treble region does indeed do some damage when it comes to the overall resolution and imaging, which is just average. As expected, the soundstage is also pretty much average. It is definitely not as airy and "out of head" like the previous OH10.




Conclusion
OH2's tuning should be liked by those who want a lush, relaxed and smooth mid-centric sound. Unfortunately it lacks in the bass and treble in comparison for it to play well with a variety of genres.

=============================================================================================================

Disclaimer:

• IKKO Audio sent over this unit to me in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Rest assured that the following observations and findings will be away from bias/es as much as possible.
• The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
• No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
• Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

Burn-in time: 5-10 hours per day, 4 days.

Source/s used:

• Hidizs AP80
• Not-By-VE Avani Realtek Dongle
• Zishan U1 USB DAC (AKM Variant)
• Samsung Galaxy S3 (WM1811 DAC)
• Non-HiFi smartphone (realme 5i)
• Local Files via Foobar and Roon, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

IEM and configuration: Stock silicone medium eartips, stock cable, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 40-60% volume, both high and low gain.
=============================================================================================================

Sound signature:

• Warm-midcentric sound signature most of the time. It can sometimes lean to a warm-balanced sound depending on the pairing. Smooth, thick presentation.

Lows:

• Lows are nearly linear with good punch and decay. However, the sub-bass extension is somewhat rolled off, resulting in a lacking rumble that will not please bassheads who looks for a deep, sub-bass rumble. Despite being rolled off, it can handle most genres well. Overall, the lows are thick, nearly linear, with a controlled decay punch.

Mids:

• The mids are forward to some extent. It is forward without being too much or intimate. Lower mids has a slight midbass bleed to keep the presentation a bit warm. Male vocals are slightly thicker. Upper mids are also a bit elevated just enough to have that average clarity and air without being harsh or sibilant. As a result, the mids are forward, warm and smooth, offering a non-fatiguing experience.

Highs:

• The treble is also nearly linear and rolled off earlier than usual. Cymbals sound a bit lacking in terms of splash and extension. Detail retrieval is average as you can hear microdetails fairly easily.

Soundstage, Imaging, and separation:

• The soundstage is also average with below-average expansion. Despite not having a wide soundstage, the Opal came up for it as its separation and imaging are very good for its price point. Separation showed little to none congestion during my tests, while the imaging is accurate enough to pinpoint instruments and vocals in a song.​

=============================================================================================================
Pros:

• One of the IEMs within this price range that has a well-done, non-fatiguing sound.
• “Nearly balanced” sound signature.
• Warm, forward mids (subjective)
• Very good technicalities
• Small, sturdy driver shell.
• Very good fit and comfort
• Well-done packaging experience.
• Easy to be driven to its full potential.

Cons:

• Bass and treble are rolled off earlier than usual (subjective).
• Soundstage lacks a bit of expansion.
• Oval-shaped nozzles may not fit most generic-shaped eartips.

=============================================================================================================
The IKKO Opal OH2 is quite a unique IEM under 80 USD when compared to the other IEMs in the market. It delivers a warm, laid-back non-fatiguing sound that will not offend anyone’s ears as it is free from any sibilance or harshness during my tests. Not to mention its forward, smooth vocals that will sound good particularly on vocal and instrument-oriented genres. I can recommend this IEM for those people who wants an IEM that is free from too elevated lows and highs.

Thank you for reading!

Additional Photos:

Introduction

Ikko has had a very active year and seems to continue working on new products. If the other day it was a DAC/Amp, now it's back to IEMS from the OH series. The OH2s could be the next step to those first OH1s, but more affordable, with a revamped design and inherited from their big brothers, the OH1s. Ikko's progression seems symmetrical, not counting the exception of the OH7s: first came the OH1, were upgraded with the higher-priced OH10, without the shape and tuning changing too much. Then came the OH1s and the change was really big, both in construction and tuning. The symmetry closes with these OH2, which keep similarities in the tuning of those OH1s, although it is true that there are also differences in their design.
For this occasion, Ikko has also opted to use the dynamic driver with a deposited nano-carbon diaphragm and the patented S.V.A.S. (Separating Vector Acoustics System) technology. The capsule design is a mix of metal parts and transparent windows, through which a 24k gold-plated printed circuit board can be seen, which optimises microcurrent, as well as an ultra-low-resistance FPC and a unique cavity connection design, which improve the transmission rate more efficiently. The oval nozzle remains, as does the use of the same cable and tip set as its big brother, which is to be welcomed in today's tight price range. Finally and to the delight of the users, the OH2 can be chosen from 5 colours. But these and other details will be developed in the following sections.



Disclaimer

Penon Audio Store, offered me this model, in exchange for writing an honest review. I want to make it clear that all my opinions written in this review have not been conditioned by this fact, nor will I ever write anything that I do not really think or feel here. I will only write about my personal opinion in relation to the revised product.



Specifications

• Driver Type: Dynamic driver with deposited nano-carbon diaphragm
• Frequency Response: 20-20kHz
• Sensitivity: 100dB/mW
• Impedance: 32Ω
• Jack Connector: 3.5mm
• Capsule Connection Type: MMCX

Packaging

Ikko has gone for a fresher and more eye-catching presentation, including a girl with a more occidental and urban style. Again, an image of a woman on the packaging of an earphone. Is it to attract attention or are these IEMS for girls? Well, you know I'm against using a female image as an advertisement in a mostly male hobby. The urban girl image itself comes as a magnetic figure, which can be stuck on the fridge. I gave it to my niece, who is still alien to this kind of symbolism [...].
Going back to the packaging, it came wrapped in a plastic bag. It has an almost white decorated cardboard, which only covers two thirds of the packaging. On that part is almost all the information concerning the IEMS: the brand logo on the top left, on the right the name of the model, in the middle a description and other characteristics on the bottom right. As if floating, there are two holes in the cardboard, which reveal the shape of the outer face of the IEMS: they are both holographic sandblasted, which start from a grey colour and can take on all the colours of the rainbow. The left edge of this cardboard is die-cut to show the urban girl and above it is the magnetic figure. On the back is the complete name of the IEMS, characteristics, frequency response, a realistic photo of the capsules and the brand name. After removing the cardboard, an eye-catching cover divided into colourful boxes with different motifs is visible. In gold lettering, OPAL stands out. She must be sensitive to high notes... There are some more descriptions at the bottom of this side.
The dimensions of the box are 202x139x49mm.
Inside the box, the IEMS are encased in a dense, white foam rubber. Attached to the nozzles are transparent tabs with the brand logo. There is also a classic pin with a black background and gold highlighting with the brand logo. Below this first level are the rest of the accessories. In a nutshell:

• OH2 capsules.
• 6 pairs of specially designed Ikko silicone tips in different sizes.
• 3 pairs of Ikko i-Planet foam tips.
• 1 MMCX cable.
• 1 clear brown leather bag.
• 1 pair of tweezers to remove the filters from the nozzles of the capsules (inside the leather bag).
• 2 filters for the capsule nozzles (inside the leather bag).
• 1 warranty card.

The content is practically the same as its big brother OH1s, the same cable, the same leather bag, the same tips... It's good that they have included the same level of accessories, but I still think that the oval mouthpiece is questionable, as well as the oval tips, even the cable is slightly stiff and I don't like the MMCX connection.



Construction and Design

Ikko has iterated the shape of the OH1s in these new OH2s, simplifying the design slightly, but without losing beauty or ergonomics. In the lookalikes, the capsule of the OH2s is once again in three parts: the inner side is white (in this case) and is metallic, although it doesn't look like it. Then there is a central part made of transparent polycarbonate, which covers part of the outer face. Finally, the outer face is closed with another metallic portion. On it is the brand logo and a small slot with a grille. The transparent side reveals a beautifully crafted printed circuit board. The gold-plated MMCX connection is also on its edge. The whole of the outer face has a shape very similar to that of the OH1s: an equilateral triangle with very rounded corners. The final size is small/medium. On this occasion, the outer face is not oddly shaped, it is quite smooth except for a protrusion resulting from the MMCX connection. The inner face is smooth and rounded, but the nozzle does not have the projection of the OH1s, so it is not as long. This time, almost the entire inner face is at the same level and when you get to the nozzle, it stretches abruptly along its entire length. On the OH1s, this rise was more gradual and even the nozzles were longer. But the final shape of the nozzles is almost identical: they are oval nozzles, whose grid can be removed with the help of a tool that comes as an accessory. The grid is a black filter, made of plastic/resin, which has visible holes. It is also oval in shape. Finally, there is a hole in the very centre of the inner side.
The cable is the same as the OH1s model, it is thinner and stiffer than you might expect. It is two strands made up of 127μm wires of high-purity monocrystalline copper, with a silver-plated magnetic core. As mentioned, the connection is still MMCX and these connectors are protected by black plastic sleeves, with the channel letter inscribed on them. They have a soft angled shape and the cable coming out of them is protected by a semi-rigid black plastic sheath. The cable covering is transparent and reveals blue and red-tinted strands. Both the pin, the splitter piece and the 3.5mm gold-plated connector sleeve are polished and shiny metal cylinders. The Ikko logo is engraved on the jack connector. There is no choice of balanced connection, which is a negative point for a model of this price, when such a connection is becoming more and more popular. The cable, despite its bombastic description, doesn't look like much and is very susceptible to being swapped for a balanced cable.
Again, Ikko has made an effort in design, modifying the look, but building on the shape of their previous OH1s. I think they've done away with the frills, such as those unhelpful dents, and gone for a more striking design, leaving that beautiful printed circuit board in the air and returning to smooth, soft lines. The nozzle is shorter and perhaps not as steep, but the size and shape are still ideal. It's true that the cable is still not ideal for my taste, I find it too stiff and I don't like the MMCX connections, because the cable tends to rotate. Again, the oval nozzle is a risk and the standard tips have complex ergonomics.
Finally, the construction feels light and the ratio between size, build quality, materials used, beauty of design and weight is excellent. Moreover, the result can be even better because this model is available in five different colours: grey, green, gold, purple and silver (white).



Adjustment and Ergonomics

Normally, Ikko is not known for designing long nozzles. In this case they have again reduced the size of the nozzles compared to their previous model OH1s. The angle also seems to have changed slightly. The result is no less ergonomic, but it is clearly aimed at shallow insertion. I find the use of their oval tips totally useless for my morphology and I have to resort to my beloved homemade silicone tips, filled with foam. Luckily, their inner core is wide and they can accommodate the oval nozzle without any problems. With them I get a real seal and a remarkable level of isolation, as well as an excellent fullness of sound.
Again, I think Ikko's great design is penalised by the boldness of the oval nozzle design and the tips to match. I'm sure they are designed to extract the full potential of the OH2's sound, but I still think the fit is critical, not straightforward and will not be appropriate for many users. Fortunately, it is not difficult to find other suitable tips and even in the same accessories there are others that may work better, either foam or silicone, with a more traditional shape.



Sound

Profile

The profile is balanced/neutral but with a clear mid-centric, warm character. Unlike its big brother, whose graph it shares from low to mid-high, the OH2s have a recession in this upper zone, which detracts from the overall sense of brightness, sparkle and clarity, offering greater control and a more typical, reserved tuning.



Bass

If there is one thing that seems to have changed (in me or in the new dynamic drivers) it is the representation of the low end. In no case could one say that the OH2s are powerful in this range. But neither could you say that their bass is anaemic. And this is the difference. In the past, in order to achieve neutral and balanced IEMS, the presence of the lower range had to be unloaded a lot. Now, it is not so necessary, unless you are looking for such a tuning.
The OH2, in my opinion, have a pleasing combination of neutrality, balance and a hint of punch, which is achieved by a very subtle curve, which goes into the mid-range. However, it is also true that the greatest weight is in the mid-bass, with the sub-bass being lighter and less represented. The result is a range that is soft for the development of electronic music or any music that demands a greater presence of the low end, but that has a realistic colour for the rest of the musical styles. I insist, it is a light bass, but not anaemic. It will never overpower the rest of the frequencies, nor will it be left behind, because it is very fast and has a quick decay, but it will always have more than a testimonial presence. It is also true that the result is not very deep, the punch is limited and there is no bass flooding in the music. The texture does not have a rough roughness, but it becomes distinctly perceptible and pleasant. In contrast, the colour feels quite real, as does the timbre. In the low-frequency pure frequency test, the tones appear natural, not very coloured. This means that there is no forced bass tuning and despite its restraint, its development appears natural.
The result is a well-balanced, neutral, light, fairly represented, not outstanding in presence.
On a technical level, it can be described as audiophile-grade bass, effective, very well articulated, dynamic, defined, coherent, its speed is clear, its development is clean, detailed and the notes are reproduced with very good definition. But as a bass lover, I find that the bass lacks punch, more depth, more presence, a little more darkness and a greater ability to create punchier bass lines, as well as a richer representation of its planes. In reality, all this is intuited, because the driver is not lacking in qualities (and with that I return to the beginning of the description, knowing that Ikko is a good expert in these arts), but it gives the feeling that it remains on the threshold of a door to a higher power.



Mids

When the lower end is lightened and the treble is softened, it is the mid-range that should remain. And there is no doubt that this is the case. The mid-range of the Ikko OH2 is designed to be enjoyed, even at high volumes. And that is something that is appreciated with styles such as rock or pop, as well as all other musical styles where mid-range representation is paramount. Firstly, that the midrange makes the lower range very good, and it is here that the kick drums, drums, bass guitars and bass guitars all have a presence that is fully justified and adjusted to enrich the mids. The warmth is there, but never as a darkness, but rather as a shading of the treble. The bass tuning does not bring warmth towards the midrange, but is effectively tuned to bring a full body, never sounding overdone, muddy, unnatural or even dense. Thus, in the first half of the central range, a natural, complex, full, but in a good way, rich and quite pure body prevails. It is very pleasant to note that there is no darkness, no heaviness, not a hint of nasal or metallic sound. In this sense the OH2 repeat the tuning of the OH1s, making it canon. Although, it is true that other brands have also sought a similar tuning, as you will see in the comparisons.
The result is an enhanced central band but in quality, it is not an exaltation of presence, it is not about enhanced voices, close above the rest. It is a successful integration of means that enjoy mutual respect in their entirety, where both male and female voices enjoy a shared protagonism, also with the rest of the instruments. There is no favourable treatment of any particular element, but rather the range is choral, in which all the components have their space and are treated with respect and naturalness. It is clear that this is not a brilliant sound and the harmonics of this range are dry and not very extensive, there is no flash or sparkle, not even when it would be desirable. In this sense, the representation is sparse, perhaps the negative point of this zone. Or maybe it's a blessing, because if someone is looking for IEMS that will allow them to enjoy bad recordings, shrill highs or simply a nice, musical midrange, just pick up a pair of Ikko OH2 and you'll know what I'm talking about. It's an analogue sound, harmonious but dynamic, vivid, smooth, but with good definition. There's no trace of sibilance, but it's not a dark sound either, nor is it completely nuanced. While I do miss some brightness, a little more sparkle, a little more micro nuance, the sound is sweet and silky, with a good level of detail, though without being scrupulous. Compared to its big brother OH1s, the subtraction of the BA driver is felt and noticed in presence, but also in its more analogue and permissive character. The detail is more rounded, the darkness is not as pronounced, the clarity is not as perceptible and the transparency is warm. Undoubtedly, this is a good alternative for long listening enjoyment.



Treble

The difference, in this case, with respect to the OH1s and those other brands that have similarly tuned IEMS, both in bass and midrange, is in the treble. The OH2s are that sweet friend that accompanies you and never ruins your evening. The treble is restful, delicate, unobtrusive, controlled, but pleasant. They have a subtle initial sparkle and the classic valley that attenuates its presence. The result is an upper zone that is also light in presence, which seeks a respectful, insinuating, suggestive presentation, beyond a superior and remarkable emphasis. In this sense, the integration of the treble as a range that enriches the midrange is obvious. The high range is the contribution of quietness and detail to the central area and not a particular protagonism. However, the price to pay is a limited extension, as well as a moderate, even sparse, airy feel, as if it were an almost tube-like sound, rounded at the top end. I understand that this tuning is intended as an alternative, intelligent and focused on an audience that can be quite wide.



Soundstage, Separation

The sense of spaciousness is moderate. Its width is simply good, it has a limited depth and an average height. The perception of three-dimensionality is not very great, although no congestion is visible. The soft character and its slight analytical capacity have a binding effect on the elements. Although the separation is noticeable, the silence, the dark background and the level of transparency are more difficult to notice. But I cannot deny that the OH2 have a clean, pure and diaphanous sound. To sum up, and to use a cliché, the scene veers towards the intimate side, in which the half-distances are very well represented, nothing sounds too close, nor too far away. But nothing stands out with particular excellence. Nor is the enveloping space of the elements very remarkable. Thus, the recreation of the image is not very complex and the location of the elements, as well as their origin, is not explicit.
The level of detail is quite adequate, even beyond its range, and looks better when the source is of high quality. The micro nuances are not as noticeable and the analogue feel of the whole smoothes its recreation.



Comparisons

TFZ My Love 4

In my opinion, a somewhat revolutionary product in the TFZ catalogue (and I'm not talking about its peculiar appearance and colour) is the My Love 4. In a brand legendary for its bass, this model smoothed out that band, creating a profile with an emphasis on mid-high and treble. While I am not a regular reader of all the forums I frequent, admittedly I have a tendency to read them diagonally, I have not found this model to have caused much of a stir and I don't think it's fair.
As for the physical differences, the TFZ's capsule is larger and stubbier, when you put on the OH2's you realise their superior level of comfort and ergonomics. The integration of the Ikko's in my ears is excellent, while the TFZ's are more bulky, protrude more and have more contact with my ear parts, which in the long run, creates more fatigue. I'm not a big fan of the Ikko cable and I prefer the thickness and the better handling of the TFZ cable to the stiffness of its rival. I also prefer the 2Pin connection.
If you compare the lower range of the two, their level of similarity is surprising. You could say that from the low end down to 2kHz, the two have a very similar frequency response. What emerges from this is that the bass sonority is very similar. You notice that both have a very fast punch, I feel that the mid-bass of the Ikko has a higher emphasis, while the TFZ has a more sub-bass point and depth. The rendering is slightly different, there is a little more colour on the Ikko and a more rubbery feel on the TFZ, despite their greater darkness. Both the power of the hit and the recovery are similar. Although I'm inclined that there is more bass weight in the sound of the Ikko. The gumminess of the TFZs allows the Ikko's bass to be more concise and precise. Otherwise, there are many analogous parameters in the lower range of both models.
Voices sound fuller and closer in the Ikko, with more body, something more noticeable in the male voices. The TFZs represent them as thinner and lighter, somewhat more distant, as well as more prone to sibilance, as they are brighter. In some situations, the Ikko's greater softness can be a negative, comparatively speaking, because it limits detail and harmonics. It is clear that the timbre is distinctly different, feeling darker, warmer and less vivid on the Ikko. The TFZs have more sparkle, brightness and brilliance. Both the details and the presentation of the instruments change in register from one model to the other. Those in the lower mid-range are better perceived in the Ikko, while those in the upper mid-range are for the TFZ. Nevertheless, I prefer the closeness and fullness of the Ikko's midrange, even if it lacks the sparkle of its rival in this case.
The difference in treble is clear: there is more representation, emphasis, extension, extension, travel and presence in the high end of the TFZs. Comparatively speaking, it is clear that the Ikko has a more nuanced, lighter and softer high end, with less sparkle and brilliance.
The greater projection of the high end of the TFZs and their slightly greater depth in the low end increases the sense of openness of the scene in the TFZs, as opposed to a more linear and flat perception of the image in the Ikko. There seems to be more width in the OH2, while the sense of separation and three-dimensionality is slightly higher in the TFZ.



Hidizs MS2

If I had to choose one of last year's favourite IEMS in this price range, I would definitely choose the Hidizs MS2. In my opinion, Hidizs has created a low/mid-cost premium product, with a neat presentation and quality elements, with special attention to its cable and carrying case. Although the cables are similar, both have two strands, even subtly thinner on the MS2, both the connectors and the handling are better than on the Ikko cable.
Although the shape of the MS2 capsules resembles that of the My Love 4, it is slimmer and more comfortable, and has a better insertion, being deeper than that of the Ikko. However, if I had to choose, I'd still go for the superior ergonomics of the OH2.
Again, it is a war between similar tunings. The frequency response is almost identical between 1kHz and 5kHz, while the similarities from the lower end down to 1kHz are great. Again, the biggest differences are in the high end. Although it is also worth noting those 2-3 dB more in the lower bass. In my opinion, the tuning of the MS2s is a winner. In addition, the fact that it has a very well tuned BA driver adds a higher level of technicality, precision, definition and resolution.
With a lower impedance and clearly higher sensitivity, the Hidizs move with a puff and need very little to shine.
Again, a very similar encounter in the low end. Both are concise, fast and slightly decaying bass. But the Ikko's are superior in these parameters. The MS2s have more punch and more LFO presence, with a more powerful sub-bass. The Hidizs' greater power gives them other noticeable characteristics, such as better texture, more depth, meatier bass lines, and a more vivid and dynamic representation of planes.
As I said, the frequency response of the centre range is very similar in the two IEMS, but there is no doubt that the neighbouring ranges play a decisive role in the overall sound. No one can claim that the ranges can be evaluated individually, forgetting the others. In this case, the importance is paramount, as well as other non-representable characteristics. The favour of a more extended and emphasised treble, as well as the greater depth of the bass, brings a richness to the mids of the Hidizs, which is not present in the Ikko. On the one hand, the profusion of detail, nuance and harmonics is greater in the MS2s. In contrast, the OH2s are more sparse and bland. The Hidizs' level of transparency is also raised and the greater depth stretches the scene, even giving it more height and width. The three-dimensionality is more perceptible and the sound is more ethereal and volatile. In contrast, the Ikko is denser, slightly more full-bodied, more compact and less transparent. Their sound is sweeter, softer and more pleasant. It cannot be said that the sound of the Hidizs is not pleasant, but it is more critical and analytical, which must be taken into account. This implies more separation, a larger space between the elements, a 360° level, a higher degree of resolution and the perception of a blacker background.



Conclusion

I think Ikko has a plan and is executing it to perfection. After the OH1s and their distinctive tuning, much lighter in the bass than the OH1 and OH10 models, they are now going down a similar path, maintaining a very similar level in bass and midrange to their sibling in form, but lighter in the high end. It is clear that this move is calculated with the idea of covering the different musical profiles of the IEMS with quality alternatives. And in this respect the brand deserves a round of applause.
The Ikko OH2 has a measured, balanced and musical profile, very suitable for long listening. It is euphonic, almost analogue, with treble that is totally under control, nice and smooth. Everything about their sound is in keeping with their rounded shape, small size, light weight and excellent ergonomics. The OH2's sound is in keeping with their exterior, with its transparent parts and smooth surface. And the best thing about them is that they have a particular profile that makes them a very special model. I'm sure many fans are looking for something like the OH2 and don't know it.



Sources Used During the Analysis

• ACMEE MF02s.
• ACMEE Magic Sound 4.
• Zishan Z4.
• Hidizs S9 Pro.
• Tempotec Sonata E35.
• Earmen Sparrow.
• E1DA #9038D.
• HiBy R3 Pro.
• Burson Audio Playmate.
• S.M.S.L Sanskrit 10th MKII + iFi ZEN CAN.

Ratings

• Construction and Design: 87
• Adjustment/Ergonomics: 86
• Accessories: 82
• Bass: 74
• Mids: 88
• Treble: 70
• Separation: 81
• Soundstage: 81
• Quality/Price: 90

Purchase Link

https://penonaudio.com/ikko-oh2.html



You can read the full review in Spanish here:

https://hiendportable.com/2022/01/16/ikko-opal-oh2-review/

Ikko OH2 Review - A Basshead's Delight

Disclaimer: I bought this Ikko Opal OH2 earphone with my own hard-earned money, and I love it. As a result, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.


My understanding is that many of the OH series' models are well-liked and respected, including models like the OH10 and the OH1s. Today, I'm taking the OH2 with me. What is its ability to compete in this highly competitive environment? The redesigned metal chamber and ergonomic shape provide a completely different listening experience in terms of sound quality and wear ability than previous models.

Specification

Model: IKKO OH2
Driver: deposited carbon Nano dynamic unit
Impedance: 32Ω
Frequency response: 20-20kHz
Sensitivity: 100dB/mW
Connector: MMCX
Plug: 3.5mm
High purity OFC silver-plated cable
24K immersion gold board OH2 newly adopts a 24K immersion gold board to optimize microcurrent, plus ultra-low resistance FPC and unique cavity connection design improve the transmission rate more effectively.



Packaging
ikko OH2 earphone
6 pairs of slicone Eartip
1 Pouch
In a nutshell, I really enjoy the packaging, and I had a really pleasant unwrapping experience.



Build and Comfort

OH2's build is of the highest grade. It is made of aluminum and resin. The overwhelming bulk of the shell is aluminum. This is a great product for long-term use because of its small size and the fact that it doesn't irritate my ears. As a result, it received an A+ for being very lightweight. It is possible, though, that you may need to try with various sizes before finding the one that works best for you.

Source
Cowon Planue R2
iFi Hip Dac
Apple Dongle
Streaming Source: Tidal

Sound Impressions (4.5/5)

Tonality – warm, smooth, non offensive

Bass
In terms of depth and rumble, the sub-bass is excellent. The attacks are really incredible in their speed and intensity. There is a lot of excellent quality bass here that can be enjoyed by everybody, from bassheads to those who like a more neutral sound. it provides Bass that isn't bloated Other frequencies may be heard clearly even in tracks like Zhu's Dreamland 2021 album, which features a lot of bass-heavy songs. If you're a fan of the sub-bass-heavy music that's now popular, this will be a great match (EDM, club, music festival, party and the like).


Mids-
Both the male and female vocals have a nice richness to sound; they don't seem dry or muffled in any way. Even though the vocals don't seem dry, there's a little crispness to them that I find appealing layered and clear with voices and solo instruments that sound full bodied , present and well articulated. The upper mid range is smooth and consistent all the way to the high end. So the midrange here is extensive.

Treble
When it comes to treble, you won't feel any harshness, even if you're extremely sensitive. There are no weird peaks to be noted, and the general clarity of the highs is outstanding. So, OH2's presentation, with its airy and lack of harshness, deserves praise.


Soundstage/Imaging-
A lack of depth in the soundstage bothers me. One of its IEM's main drawbacks is its tiny soundstage. Imaging is good for the price range.



Comparison (Moondrop Aria)
Bass performance on the OH2 is better to me compared to Aria which does lack a little bit of mid bass thump causing it to sound bland.OH2 is deliver superior bass presentation and more fun sound compared to Aria which is completely my preference. Aria is lacking a little air to my ears compared to OH2 and it doesn’t feel as dynamic as OH2. Aria has better technicalities and detail retrieval. Aria’s Soundstage is excellent. Not much depth but width is pretty impressive Better suited for critical listening. In Aria, the imaging and directionality is average I would say. The overall tonality and harmonics are balanced and the natural timber is worth mentioning at this price point. In a nutshell, OH2 beat Aria on Bass Section.



Conclusion
If you have $79.00 to spend on an earphone and want what is undoubtedly the most adaptable and competent all-rounder on the market, the Ikko opal OH2 is the earphone for you. It is available in black or white. It has a stylish design, delivers performance on par with items in a higher price range, is well-constructed and highly comfortable, comes with high-quality accessories, and comes in a beautiful package. To be honest, based on my own preferences, it is quite simple to appreciate the OH2, However, despite my admiration for the OH2, I believe it can be better tuned in the high end area in order to provide more energy, and I believe it will be a really enjoyable set. In fact, Ikko does not even advertise them as a pair of headphones for critical listening purposes. The IKKO OH2 OPAL is an excellent performer for its price range, and it is especially recommended for those who like a little extra bass. It is a pleasure to drive and performs well with almost any combination of tires. Its overall excellent performance offers it a strong recommendation for the price range in which it is offered. I am confident it that it satisfy bassheads

We look forward to seeing what Ikko does next as they continue on their way to being a leader in the industry. Happy Listenling.

IKKO OH2 OPAL: Bliss for the Bassheads




Summary & Objective:

IKKO OH2 OPAL comes with a great new look & build and also comes with great sonic capabilities and performances of a single Dynamic Driver in the $80 range. It comes with a different looking nozzle and promises great performance specially for people who prefer a bit more bass.




Introduction:

The IKKO OH2 OPAL is the latest release by IKKO Audio in the below $100 price range and is considered to be a new flagship from IKKO - with a promise to deliver great quality sound. It comes with deposited carbon unit + IKKO patented SVAS(Separating Vector Acoustics System), OH2 achieves the precise volume output of sound in a limited space. The new metal cavity and ergonomic design brings the new experience in terms of sound quality and wearability.
The IKKO OH2 OPAL is priced at $79.



Disclaimer:

This unit was sent by IKKO Audio for the purpose of an honest review.
Everything mentioned in this review are purely my own based on my experiences with the IEM.


Design, Build & Features:

IKKO OH2 OPAL has a nice new look to it with small transparent space from where you can see the board itself. As mentioned by IKKO on their website: "OH2 newly adopts a 24K immersion gold board to optimize microcurrent, plus ultra-low resistance FPC and unique cavity connection design improve the transmission rate more effectively". The shell itself is very lightweight and ergonomically built to provide great comfort and also comes with an oval shaped nozzle which is somewhat quite different from the other IEMs in the similar price ranges. I have found this new nozzle and their proprietary ear tips to provide great isolation and comfort throughout the listening sessions.


New Ear-tips:
The IKKO OH2 comes with it's own proprietary ear-tips to match it's oval shaped nozzle which are also oval in shape. they come in 5 different sizes to match different fit preferences.





Specifications:

The IKKO OH2 OPAL comes with $79 price tag and the specifications are as below:

https://www.ikkoaudio.com/products/earphone-ikko-oh2







NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOUND....

Items Used for this Review:

DAC/AMP: @Questyle M12, Luxury & Precision W2 Dongle DAC/AMP, Cayin RU6 R2R Dongle, @iFi audio Go Blu Dongle
DAP/Source : Cayin N6 Mk2 with R01 motherboard, Cayin N3 Pro
Streaming Source: QOBUZ


Tracks Used:
The tracks I have used can be found from the below playlist that I have used and generally use for most reviews...



IKKO OH2 OPAL Sound Impressions in Short:

The BASS:

The Bass on the OH2 comes with good details from sub-bass region and with good depth in the mid-bass … specially the instrument/drums attacks. The overall bass good muscle & texture and good amount of details for the price range with deep bass response. In tracks like : "Anna R. Chie (Remastered) - Konstantin Wecker" and "Dreams (2001 Remaster) – Fleetwood Mac" you can feel the the deep attack of the different instruments with just enough details. The tumps and slams are very enjoyable specially for people who appreciate a bit more bass.

The MIDS:

Owing to the U shaped tuning of the OH2 - though the midrange is a bit recessed, the vocals seemed a bit forward and comes with good separation. Though recessed, the midrange comes with good texture and muscle. The vocals are natural and both male and female vocals come with good amount of details. Instruments sounded natural. In tracks like: "Anchor - Trace Bundy" and "Ruby Tuesday - Franco Battiato" while you will love the overall midrange specially transients of the guitars, violins etc... instruments and the vocals.

The TREBLE:

Treble is quite enjoyable and non-fatiguing. Cymbals sound natural and tracks like “Chocolate Chip Trip – Tool” sounded great and the track was very enjoyable.
The treble has enough details and texture and is quite commendable for the price.

STAGING & SEPARATION:

The Staging is where it felt like OH2 could use a bit more width. The staging has good depth and just felt a bit shorter in terms of width. Tracks like: “ She Don't Know – Melody Gardot” or “Bohemian Rhapsody (live aid) – Queen” sound good & enjoyable. Separation however is amongst the stronger traits of the OH2.

Imaging & Timbre:

The OH2 also comes with just good sense of positioning and imaging & timbre performances. Tracks like: “Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) - The Beautiful South “or “Paradise Circus - Massive Attack” seemed quite enjoyable with good imaging & natural timbre.



Comparisons:

The recently launched Tinhifi T3 plus also comes in the same price category as the IKKO OH2 OPAL and also features a single dynamic driver and comfortable fit and being quite a hype in certain regions. Hence, comparing these 2 ,may help many people decide where to spend their money.



IKKO OH2 OPAL vs TINHIFI T3 PLUS:

Build & Comfort: Both of these IEMs are very lightweight and hence very comfortable and has great fit.

Bass: While both have very good Bass performances, the OH2 seemed better in terms of details retrieval and separation. Also, the depth is better in the OH2 which makes its overall bass performance slightly better. The T3 plus performance remains very commendable & enjoyable also.

Mids: While midrange is recessed for both IEMs, the T3 plus sounds a bit more smoother and fuller in the midrange while the OH2 has better details and bit forward vocal responses. Both IEMs fared some strengths & weaknesses and therefore there can be no clear winners.

Treble: The Treble performance seemed non-peaky and good in both IEMs. Not much to complain about really.

Soundstage & Separation: While the OH2 has more depth in staging the T3 plus has wider staging. However, when it came to separation the OH2 was slightly better than the T3 plus.




Conclusion :

The IKKO OH2 OPAL is a great performer given the price range specially for people who appreciate a bit more bass. It is quite easy to drive and performs well with just any combination. It's overall good performance makes it easily recommendable for the price range.

Ikko OH2 Review - New contender in town



Intro

There are several models in the OH series which are highly touted, namely the OH10 as well as the OH1s, at least from what I heard. Today I have the OH2 with me. Let's see if it’s able to hold out or stand out among the competition out there today.


Packaging

This time around, Ikko has decided to go with a Hip-Hop-ish Waifu kind of theme.
Unboxing experience is nothing less than the more premium OH1s which I reviewed earlier.
Same kind of eartips and carrying case.
In short, I like the packaging very much, I have a very good unboxing experience.


Build and Comfort

The build quality of OH2 is very solid. It consists of aluminium and resin. Majority of the shell is aluminium. The size is also very small and it stays in my ear very comfortably and I have no issue wearing them for long hours. However, while the eartips does seal properly, you might need to take some time to try and see which size actually works for you due to the oval shaped nozzle.

No protruding edges that cause discomfort throughout my listening session.



Source

Foobar2k -> RHA DACAMP L1 Lineout Cayin C5 -> OH12
Apple’s Type C Dongle -> OH2


Sound

This is the IEM where you want to put on and just chill out. It’s not meant for you to dissect the music nor analyze every single instrument in the track. This is the IEM where you put on and enjoy Teresa Teng’s album.

Warm-ish sound and smooth across the frequency range. If you’re thinking of getting this for critical listening purposes,I'd suggest you skip and look for another unit, because this is not meant for it, in terms of tuning. Timbre sounded quite realistic to my ears.


Bass

• Bass presentation for OH2 feels very smooth
• No sudden rise nor drop from what I can hear. It’s just smooth and well controlled
• Adequate quantity for fun and also good quality kind of bass
• Non bloated bass
• No bass bleed
• Nowhere near basshead level

Mids

• Both male and female vocal has got good texture to it, doesn’t sound thin nor veiled
• No recessed vocal here, vocal positioning is rather intimate sounding which compliment well for OH2’s tuning
• Vocal doesn’t sound dry but somehow,it feels like there’s a little crisp to it, and i personally quite like it
• Upper mid range is smooth all the way to the top end,as mentioned this is not a pair meant for critical listening

Treble

• Treble is smooth and non fatiguing
• Good enough detail retrieval, as mentioned earlier, this set is not for critical listening
• Enough treble extension to not make OH2 feels dark despite being a warm set
• Average amount of air

Soundstage/Imaging

• Soundstage is rather intimate to me, lacking depth to my ears
• Imaging is rather average to my ears but instruments can still be pinpointed easily

Driveability

• Easy to drive and you will get acceptable volume level even off smartphone
• Benefit from better source/dac/amp
• Does not really benefit much from amping

Comparison (Moondrop Aria)

• Aria has better technicalities and detail retrieval
• Harman tuned
• Better suited for critical listening
• Bass performance on the OH2 is better to me compared to Aria which does lack a little bit of mid bass thump causing it to sound bland
• OH2 is more “fun” sounding compared to Aria (My preference)
• Aria is lacking a little air to my ears compared to OH2 and it doesn’t feel as dynamic as OH2

Final Thoughts

Well, based on my preference, it is very easy to like the OH2, this is coming from someone who disliked Aria due to its bland nature. I’m not saying Aria is bad, don’t get me wrong, it just doesn’t offer the kind of enjoyment or dynamic that I'm looking for in a listening session.

However, despite liking the OH2, i do think OH2 can be better tuned on the top end region to offer more energy, and I think it will be a very fun set.

OH2 is not very hard to recommend for someone who wants to have the laid back kind of listening session, but for a critical listener, you may stay away as this is not for you. In fact Ikko doesn’t even market them as a set for critical listening.

Overall, i will rate this IEM which i listened via my listening setup a 4.0/5

*A big thanks to Ikko for sending over this unit for me to review. I receive no compensation that will affect my evaluation towards this IEM.

If you guys are interested, head over to Ikko’s store to grab this unit! There’s a Christmas sale happening currently in the webstore! Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Webstore
AliExpress Store

Purchased the Ikko OH2 myself. Not a review unit.

I feel the graph they put on the box is quite accurate. Except for the subbass, OH2 no doubt has lots of subbass just its no pushed forward.


Bass:
Seems quite bassy with some bloom, but no subbass distraction. Actually the subbass is so good, that I believe the on-box Frequency Response graph misrepresents the subbass extension....it has lots of subbass in a positive manner.
Mid bass profile, is more rounded than snappy to drums. But it is a nice rounded feeling like the ie900, but still remember everything is in a euphonic mix in the OH2.


Mids:
Good vocals with shout that don't stand out of the mix. Vocals are not forward....but then again nothing is forward in this iems presentation.

Too safely tuned to be fatigueless, instruments have less bite. More a good iem for disassociating when listening. Even electric guitar is euphonically thrown in the mix rather than standing out; unless the track purposefully does so.


Treble:
Polite, not metallic at all. In terms of airyness, these iems are more about a minimal width than depth & decay.

Might be pushing cymbals a little forward without it being fatiguing. But not enough to be an issue beyond waiting for brain burn-in. Could be distracting? But not yet there for me. Timbre of the cymbals sound believable.


Discussion:
Seems to be a more affordable OH10 (but possibly a step less in terms of techs?). An easy fitting iem too. I can't see it having deal breaker flaw for anyone; other than they can probably save up for better stuff. Great if not expecting critical listening, but a chill one.

Helps to have a cold source to compensate well for this iem. Especially a source with an exaggerated space of imaging seperation like a Chord Hugo 2, but that is a ridiculous source for such an affordable iem.



Miscellaneous continuation:
Oval nozzle and convexed oval ear tips are really a positive aspect to the experience.

I get less of an imbalance issue in discomfort from my left/right ear-canal differences from this.
My right ear doesn't feel as "full" as it does before I go for a smaller tip.






Cable is minimal but very passable. Nobody will feel they need to replace it. Even the earhooks have a passable curve. Oh and it came with an MMCX assist tool for removal.



IKKO being brave with a new hip-hop Waifu concept:


Front depiction of the character is a Refrigerator style magnet. With her reprinted right under:



Rest of the specifications information from the box. The FR graph seems trustable to me.
Just notice they have the graph peaking at 9khz, so you won't be able to overlap it over other graphs out there which usually have their microphone setup to cause that artifact appear at 8kHz.
That 9kHz peak is not hearable to me with my small tips and deep insertion. It's just an artifact of the recording equipment......so overall the iem is relatively darker in the treble, but it is not rolled-off.

As I said before the cymbals are a little forward. So treble extension is not rolled-off, it is just not as loud as the rest of of Frequency Response. I feel like this has some potential for people that like to EQ.

On-Box Frequency Response. (Again the subbass is much more than they have depicted it. The subbass is actually one of the OH2's strengths! )





Using the tips from the ikko OH2 actually work on the oval nozzles of the Samsung Buds Pro (truly wireless).


And the case closes for charging too.

I should see if these have any synnergy with the VE8 oval nozzle. Probably not, with how deep the insertion depth is on the VE8.