About Me
I’m not a professional reviewer. This is a hobby. I am passionate and thoroughly find joy in providing feedback on products to help other hobbyists along their journey. Trust only in YOUR ears. Music has been, and will continue to be, a huge part of my life. My escape from the frustrations and static of everyday life. I typically listen to progressive metal, djent, deathcore, hardcore, alternative and classic rock. Music with meaning, emotion, and polyrhythms! Music dedicated to pushing the limits of what we thought was possible. I am a simple man, on an epically expensive journey searching for the long-lost treasure at the end of the rainbow. Only to realize that the ‘end game’ in this hobby is just a fantasy.
This set was purchased at MusicTeck. I have no affiliation with NGaudio. These IEMs were purchased with my own hard-earned cash and my opinions are my own. If you’re interested in purchasing a set for yourself, please find the link below.
NGaudio Khaos — MusicTeck
Product Overview:
NGaudio Khoas
Retail: $3649 USD
Driver Configuration: Driver count - 1 low frequency (DD), 4 mid frequency (BA), 4 high frequency (EST)
Proprietary Technology: 9-unit 3-way, 3-way crossover design/ Self devolved masking material
Tuning Target: Well-balanced all-rounder
Stock Cable: Eight-core silver plated copper (white)
Unboxing Experience (2/5)
At this price range, I undoubtedly expected more. Though I prefer a smaller box for storage purposes, this is literally a disservice to the products inside. I’m bittersweet about the experience. It’s like opening a gift on Christmas to find an old temperware box. But once you open the box, there’s the product at the top of your wish list! It is evident that the IEM’s themselves were meant to be the focus here.
Contents
- NGaudio signature IEM case - Velvet lined, silver puck
- Pair of NGaudio Khoas IEM’s
- NGaudio original eight-core copper plated silver cable
- (2) desiccant packs
- Cleaning tool
- (3) Velcro NGaudio cable organizers
- (1) full set of generic tips
- ‘Warranty Certificate’ Card
Build Quality (5/5)
The Khoas features a solid, 3D printed shell with a vent located near the front of each IEM. The face of the shell showcases organic blades (L-Blue/ R-Green) in clear resin with ‘NGaudio Khoas’ printed in gold. It is quite a unique looking set. The bore is rather large and features a non-recessed 2-pin socket. These things are SOLID. Easy to clean, no metal to scuff, reasonable light weight. Lastly, the overall size is a breath of fresh air in a market filled with absolute behemoths.
Fit (5/5)
The shape and size of the Khoas is fantastic. Probably one of the most comfortable sets I’ve ever used. The nozzle fits relatively deep but once the fit and seal is right, I can wear these for hours on end with no need to adjust or take breaks. After tip rolling for a few days, I found my best pairing to be with the SpinFit W1’s in medium.
Cable Quality (4/5)
The stock eight-core copper plated silver cable compliments the overall aesthetics well. The cable has low memory and great ergonomics. The termination is also color matched with the provided case which is a thoughtful touch. Overall, it’s a great cable BUT at this price range, I would have hoped for a collaboration cable or something a little more ‘boutique’. Honestly, I would have been happy if they simply matched the Y-splitter and 2-pin connectors to the champagne gold termination. This small addition would have completed the overall theme.
Accessories (3/5)
Case: The metal puck style case is nothing new. It’s functional, well-constructed and performs its job. This baby is quite hefty but feels and looks premium.
Cable Organizer(s): Appreciate the fact that they included something but Velcro is typically included with most entry level sets. Would have preferred a single leather organizer.
Eartips: Included is (1) set of silicone ear tips. I cannot identify the make or model. If you’re buying a set of IEM’s at this price, you likely have preferred eartips anyway so I’m not going to be critical here. The included tips work just fine.
Additional: Cleaning tool and desiccant packs are always great to have for any new set!
Wishlist: IEM shell sleeve/ Leather cable organizer/ Premium quality box
Sound (9/10)
Sound is subjective. My ears and personal preference are undoubtedly going to be different from yours. I will do my best to describe my preference, provide a brief subjective description of the frequency response and elaborate with some track impressions.
Personal Taste: Bass I need to feel my music. There needs to be a distinct separation and accurate layering of instruments. I need to hear that bass guitar! This is the sonic link between the rhythmic and melodic elements in music. Vocals are generally less important to me but need to sound natural. Treble should be well extended with an emphasis on presence, air, and overall detail retrieval. I find myself somewhat sensitive in this region and absolutely despise shouty, sibilant IEM’s.
(Measurements provided by @twister6)
Disclaimer: I want to emphasize that graphs do not paint the entire picture. It is imperative that you know the aspect ratio of the graph, y-axis range, normalization used, and how much octave smoothing was used. FR graphs are a great visual reference when trying to communicate certain aspects of an IEM’s tonal balance, but a great looking graph does not always mean a great sounding product.
The graph above illustrates a well-balanced W-shaped tuning. Overall, I would agree. The Khoas is clinical, natural, and extremely well balanced.
Bass: Bass boost tapering off just after 300 kHz. The bass can best be described as deep, punchy, and extremely engaging. My biggest gripe with ‘clinical’ sounding IEM’s is the lack of bass and weight. Not here.
Midrange: This is unique.. From 300 kHz, you will notice a slight, yet consistent, rise through 2.2k, followed by a 3k dip resulting in a lean lower mid-range and an emphasis on the resolving, natural upper mids. The only IEM’s I could find with a similar mid-range FR were the Noble Ragnar and Helios SE.
Treble: 4k/ 8k/16k peak resulting in incredible extension, detail, and an overall airy presentation. At no time did I find the Khoas to be sibilant or piercing.
Cable Pairing
DISCLAIMER: Though I personally enjoy cable swapping and believe in the sonic benefits, I’m not here to convince anyone. I typically prefer pure copper cables.
Stock Cable: MSRP $299 USD
_Specifications: Copper-Plated Silver/ 8 wires
Combining Copper and Silver provides several benefits and draw backs. Pure copper cables tend to produce a warm, fuller sound with a slight boost to the bass frequencies. Silver cables on the other hand produce a more analytic sound, providing the most detail and refinement. When combined, you get the benefits of both, just on a smaller scale. While cable rolling, I found the stock cable to be the most ‘neutral’, leaning towards analytical with a storm of lower end jabs. Though this cable isn’t my favorite of the bunch, it is a great pairing at an insanely reasonable price.
PWAudio Attila Shielding: MSRP $1999 USD
_Specifications: PVC Shielding and Nylon Protective Sleeve/ OCC Copper/ 26 AWG/ 4 wires
PWAudio needs no introduction. They have built a reputation producing some of the most iconic cables within the industry and the Atilla shielding is no exception. When paired with the Khoas, the first thing you’ll notice is how dark the background is. Ergonomics are the worst of the three but still extremely manageable. The sound stage is horizontally larger with a boost of air pushed throughout the mix. The low end does lose a bit of punch, but the sound is extremely fluid. This would be my preferred pairing for general listening.
Eletech Victoria: MSRP $650 USD (Not available in USA)
_Specifications: FlexiMax Insulation and OFC Plated Silver Shielding Net/ Gold Plated Monocrystal Copper/ 26 AWG/ 4 wires
In my experience, gold plated copper cables tend to sound clean and lively while maintaining a recognizable punch in the low end. When paired with the Khoas, I immediately notice a more cinematic percussion experience. The head stage is slightly larger to the stock cable but with better detail retrieval. This would be my preferred pairing for analytical listening.
Impressions
DISCLAIMER: To provide a more ‘out of the box’ impression segment, I will be utilizing the stock cable.
Source: Local FLAC (Lossless)/ Cayin N7 (High Gain/ DSD 512/ Class A)/ Stock Cable (4.4)/ SpinFit W1 Eartips (M)
Periphery - Periphery II - Ragnarök
- If you listen to progressive metal then you know Periphery. And if you know Periphery then you know how incredibly talented they are. This track is peppered with nuance, technical riffs, exceptional vocal focused sections, and lots of energy. From the start, instruments are well separated and delicately balanced. Spencer’s vocals are slightly forward but sit perfectly centered and spatially separated from the rest of the track. This track is full of hidden easter eggs. Background guitar tracks, electronic sparkle, slight vocal reverberations. The Khoas is unmatched (compared to other sets in MY collection) in its ability to leave no signal behind.
Good Tiger - We Will All Be Gone - Blueshift - What do you get when you combine musicians from TesseracT, The Faceless, The Safety Fire and Architects? A supergroup that doesn’t suck! The beginning of this track provides a great example of the depth and ‘sense of space’ capabilities of the Khoas. Echoing claps from the back of the room, perfectly timed with stage center snare strikes. Slicer guitar effects teasing from the left, a distorted bass maintaining structure. Once the chorus hits, you are brought back to your seat in the crowd. A great display of contrast.
Agnes Obel - Aventine - The Curse - Agnes Obel consistently shows up in my impressions section. Why? Well, if you’re asking that question, you clearly haven’t heard of her. When I am looking to gauge instrumental timbre and the overall tonal balance of a new set, this is the artist I can always count on. This song in particular features the cello, violin, piano and female vocals. It should also be noted that the stringed instruments are also played using various techniques. I could write on and on about the complexities of this composition but to summarize, the Khoas left me blown away. You can literally hear the individual strings of the violin and cello when bowed, and the directional changes of the bows. Vocals also sound incredibly lifelike.
This Town Needs Guns - 1.3.0.0.0.0 - +3 Awesomeness Repels - TTNG is a math rock group. If you’re not familiar with this genre of music, I’ll quickly summarize. Complex, atypical rhythmic structures, counterpoint, odd (frequently changing) time signatures. It’s all about timing. When critically listening to TTNG, it’s a lot for your ears and mind to decipher. But to even get there, you need a well-controlled IEM to play it. With the Khoas, I get more than I bargained for. Every stroke, pick, nuanced detail, it’s all there. Whether you can keep up with it all is another question.
Crystal Lake - The Voyages (Re-Recorded) - Twisted Fate - Lets go back to high school and try out some melodic metalcore. The Khoas provides a significant low-end punch here. A slightly more intimate sound stage but instrument separation is well maintained. The instrumental tones are so freaking meaty! Vocals are perfectly placed to my liking. Center stage but set far enough back to not to steal the light.
Humanity’s Last Breath - Ashen - Blood Spilled - Alright, let’s go heavy. If you’re a first-time listener, you’ll be tricked into thinking your headphones are clipping during multiple sections. Buster Odeholm utilizes some very unorthodox methods when producing and mixing music, but his final products are out of this world huge. It’s so hard to describe, but I literally feel like I’m being sucked through a worm hole during multiple sections of this track. I don’t know what the Khoas is doing but holy hell, it is remarkable. The sound stage can’t be described. It’s not noticeably deep, high or wide, but rather all encompassing. The more I think about it, the more confused I am…
Summary
This set benefits from ‘burn in’. When I first listened to the Khoas, I immediately clicked with its overall tuning but admittedly wasn’t blown away by its technical abilities. As time went on, my opinion started to shift. After 50+ hours of playtime, I found this set to transform into a true technical beast. Moral of the story. Don’t expect to jam out for 10 minutes and experience all the Khoas has to offer. The head stage of the Khoas is the widest and deepest I’ve ever heard. Will this replace a set of speakers? No, but an IEM offering this level of resolution and contrast is astonishing.
Conclusion
I had never heard of NGaudio before blind buying the ‘Khoas’. Minimal product data, next to no impressions or reviews available. But what’s the fun in buying all your products based on everyone else’s experience and recommendation? So many flagship IEMs are sold solely on the praises of others. Others with different: ears, preferences, music taste and expectations. I can’t be the only one who’s experienced buyer’s remorse after purchasing that ‘must have’ set only to find myself still reaching for my previous ‘go to’. I don’t care if you buy the Khoas. It won’t make me any richer. But I’m sure glad I did because this thing continues to impress me.
