Introduction: Reecho Audio is one of the newer ChiFi companies which have appeared in the past few years; I remember first hearing of them in connection with the rather astonishingly-named “Insects Awaken” all-BA monitor. Last year I read some positive reviews of both their SG-03 and SG-01 budget single-DD offerings, but never heard either of them for myself. However I was intrigued enough to be pleased when the opportunity arose for me to review their new SG-01 OVA, a revised and repackaged edition of the original SG-01. While I cannot offer a comparison with the original model, in this review I will do my best to evaluate how it competes at the incredibly crowded $50 price point in which it finds itself.
I would like to thank Penon Audio for providing me with a sample of the SG-01 OVA in exchange for my honest review. The MSRP is $49 at time of publication, and you can purchase a copy for yourself
here. The specifications are as follows:
Driver: 10mm N52 Graphene composite diaphragm
Cable: 5N 96 Core Sliver-Plated OCC Cable
Frequency range: 20Hz-20kHz
Impedance: 32 ohms
Sensitivity: 112dB*2dB
T.H.D: < 2%at 1kHz
Connector: 2Pin 0.78mm
Packaging & Accessories: Right off the bat, Reecho manages to easily impress with its packaging and accessorizing given the modest $50 price bracket of the SG-01 OVA. The embossed box which greets us upon removing the dust cover is more reminiscent of packaging typically found in the $100-$300 price range rather than a budget model such as this. However, let’s be honest: most of us forget about the packaging entirely right after the unboxing experience. What really matters to me — and, I suspect, to most buyers as well — are the accessories.
And the accessories are the first area in which Reecho really sets itself apart from the competition in its price range. At $50 you’ll probably be receiving a canvas draw-bag for carrying and storage, if you receive anything at all; Reecho on the contrary includes a zippered hardshell carry case, which is slimmer than normal and thus easily pocketable. Even better, rather than the usual throw-in cable and generic eartips we here receive three sets of excellent tips in varying bore sizes, and an extremely nice SPC cable which is thin, lightweight, well-constructed, supple, comfortable in the earhooks, and possessing a working chin-slider.
All too often a budget model deceives us with the price point, since purchasing aftermarket tips and/or cables is almost a necessity to achieve proper fit and comfort. With this Reecho, on the other hand, I think practically everyone will be more than satisfied with the included accessories; I personally settled on the white wide-bore stock tips and felt no need to reach into my own box of aftermarket accessories for either tips or cable.
Build & Comfort: But Reecho certainly did not skimp on the build quality as a result of splurging on included accessories. The zinc alloy shells feel very solid despite being relatively lightweight and extremely ergonomic. The 2-pin connectors are portruding, giving confidence in their longevity (flush connectors can be risky). Despite the double-vented shells, isolation is nevertheless above average, perhaps aided by the fact that the medium-small shells fill my ear cavity extremely well (so your mileage may vary). They sit flush with my ear, making them an excellent candidate for those who like to fall sleep with their IEMs.
Internally, the SG-01 OVA possesses an upgraded graphene composite driver and a stronger N52 magnet as compared to the original. Externally, the black finish of the original has been replaced by an iridescent electric blue that shifts to purple when it catches the light in a certin way. Me, I’m an understated kind of guy, I would have preferred the black, but the new finish is undoubtedly more eye-catching.
Signature: The SG-01 OVA possesses a very nicely balanced W-shaped tonality. The emphasis leans a bit toward the quite high quality bass you are getting for the price (moderately elevated and slightly sub-bass biased, with absolutely outstanding extension for a budget IEM), but this does not at all overshadow either the mids or the treble. There is a mild amount of warmth in the lower mids, giving male vocals a nicely bodied presentation. Upper mids in their turn are slightly emphasized over the lower, giving female vocals and strings a nice energy and presence but staying shy of any sort of shoutiness. Lower treble inherits some energy from the upper mids before dipping a bit, but then the SG-01 OVA picks back up with quite a shocking degree of extension in the upper treble for a budget single-DD, easily surpassing many IEMs I have heard at multiples of this price point. This allows enough air to keep an open and balanced presentation despite the moderate emphasis of low end.
Bass: Despite the balanced presentation, the bass is the heart of the SG-01 OVA’s sound: it has a self-confident presence, able to convince with its authority and physicality of impact, yet always maintaining excellent control and restraint. It isn’t the tightest or the fastest bass I have ever heard, but neither is it slow or wooly by any stretch; It has a full note weight, yet without bloat or bloom; in everything it strives to find the proper balance. Texture is very good for a budget DD. Attack is perhaps a bit blunted, while decay is extended enough to give a sense of atmospheric musicality to the presentation — yet it always remains nimble enough not to descent into any kind of boominess. All in all, I consider this a “fun” low end that nevertheless at no point surpasses the bounds of naturality.
Mids: Although the U-shaped signature of the SG-01 means that the midrange is not the focus of its presentation, even so I really like the mids on offer here — and I say this as generally mid-centric listener. The mild warmth of the lower midrange allows male vocals and the “meat” of the instrumentation to achieve a body and fullness of note weight that is extremely pleasing. This is extremely judiciously counterbalanced by the somewhat lifted upper mids, bringing a zest to the presentation which keeps the warmth from bogging anything down. With this kind of tuning and in a budget-DD, details are of course not the focus of this midrange more musical than analytical; yet given these constraints, I never found resolution to be lacking either. And despite the energetic lift to the upper mids, shoutiness, glare and sibilance where absolutely nowhere to be heard; the SG-01 OVA is quite accommodating to both various musical genres as well as recording quality.
Treble: The lower treble carries on the energy of the upper mids for a time, with a few dips around 5K and 8-10K, and then comes back with a frankly incredible amount of even extension and air in the upper treble for a budget single DD; well, frankly, for
any single DD. Upper treble is traditionally the Achilles heel of this driver setup, but somehow Reecho has accomplished an amazing feat here and really hit the nail on the head with its treble tuning. And thanks to the judicious dips in the mid-treble, I never encountered any fatigue even over longer listening sessions. Yes, on some occasions the harmonics were a bit lacking in some instrumentation due to these dips, but choices must always be made, and Reecho has shown a deftness and refinement here that utterly belies the price point.
Soundstage & Technicalities: Reecho keeps its streak going when it comes to technicalities, with the SG-01 OVA being undeniably extremely accomplished for the price. The soundstage is not only wide but also fairly tall — although unsurprisingly it struggles somewhat more with depth as do most IEMs at this price point. The imaging is quite good, not holographic but very focused and well-defined on both X and Y axes. Instrument separation and layering are likewise excellent, aided by the extension and air of the upper treble (though due to the slight warmth the amount of air between the instruments is not the widest quantitatively). Resolution is certainly respectable and nothing to complain about, although this is another area where it cannot totally break free of the constraints of a budget model, especially when it comes to the leading edges in the transients which tend to be somewhat on the blunt side. Timbre is really quite good, with only the slightest tinge of hollowness caused by the muted harmonics at certain points in the treble response. To sum up, as a whole and considering the price point and driver configuration, the SG-01 OVA is a phenomenal total package of technical performance.
Select Comparisons:
vs. Tin T2 Plus: The T2 Plus has long been my default $50 recommendation as an all-rounder, but the Reecho SG-01 OVA now thoroughly displaces it (unless someone is highly averse to a noticeable bass boost). Both the bass and the upper-mids/lower treble have somewhat greater emphasis on the SG-01 OVA, although the midranges are equally full and pleasing to me on both units. The SG-01 beats it on technicalities, especially when it comes to soundstage height and consequent 2D imaging capabilities, as well as layering. Both have excellent builds and stock cables, though the Reecho wins out as far as other accessories go and possesses much better isolation (it also avoids potential problems with the MMCX connectors on the Tin).
vs. Moondrop Aria: The Aria is getting close to twice the price of the Reecho, but I would choose the SG-01 OVA in a heartbeat. The Aria has a bit more of a safe and polite tuning — especially in the treble — which likely manages not to offend, yet often on the other hand fails to engage. Especially over time it comes across as somewhat anodyne; the Reecho, on the other hand, is to me equally inoffensive yet undeniably more emotionally engaging. It also possesses markedly better imaging, which I found to be the major technical deficiency of the Aria.
Conclusion: In case you fell asleep during the review, the tl;dr is that I am quite unexpectedly blown away by the Reecho SG-01 OVA. It really is the whole package: you get an extremely refined and versatile tuning combined with surprisingly competent technicalities for a budget single DD, in a very comfortable shell, with all the accessories you need, at an extremely attractive price point. Naturally it is not the last word in anything and has its few minor faults, yet for me it manages to absolutely redefine what $50 can buy you in an earphone these days. This is the second 5/5 rating I have yet awarded.