Venture Electronics Monk Slim Metal

The VE Monk Plus was one of the first earbuds I bought that gave me enough oomph for my listening habit. It made me realize earbuds as a real option to listen to good music, instead of disposable items that come with your phones.

I got the VE Monk Slim Metal a few weeks ago and have been using them extensively.

Specs
Driver: 14.8mm Dynamic
Impedance: 32Ohms
Frequency Response: 20-22KHz
Shell type: 16.4 mm plastic face with PK style shell
Connector: 3.5 SE (4.4 and 2.5 Balanced options available for purchase)
Sensitivity: 115dB



Build
The drivers are housed in a PK type shell made of metal. I have never owned this type of shell, but people have said that the Monk Slim Metal is slightly bigger than the original, with a 16.4mm face made of plastic. They look very impressive to me, reflecting light beautifully. There are L and R indications on the shell but there is no physical notch or bump on the shells to indicate which is which. I guess it's to keep the look more streamlined; but you have to really scrutinize the shell to see which one is L and R.

The heft of the metal and it's shape keeps them steady in my ears; unlike MX500 shells or many bell shaped shells. I can do physical activities comfortably around the house; and not have to worry about them falling out of my ears. It is really something that helps me keep using these earbuds.

The cable is not the usual black rubber affair, it's more a smoky grey and I find it so-so, not as good as some coiled or fabric cables used in other earbuds. I bought the 3.5 SE termination and the plug is very strong with good strain relief. The cable also has a chin slider which is always good for earbuds.



Accessories
There's a great assortment of accessories that comes with the earbuds. There's a nice denim blue semi-hard case for storage with the VE Clan logo on it. There's also the VE EX_Pack Lite included in the case which has a few pairs of full and donut foams. The earbuds come with pair of full-foams pre-attached to it, so you can straight away put them in your ears and listen to some music.

This is way more accessories than even pricier earbuds so they are very welcome for this listener.



Sound
I mainly listened to them using a Sony NW-A55 with MrWalkman firmware, sometimes double amping with a Fiio E12 Mont Blanc. Files include MP3 (128-320kbps), FLAC (16-24Bits), and AAC.

These earbuds are a neutral sounding to my ears. Cymbals and stringed instruments sound very lively and with alot of energy. The mids are also quite upfront, with pianos and voices sounding very detailed. The bass is not lacking, you get the bass notes, but not exaggerated like some mid to low budget earbuds. The sound is clear and detailed.

What I love about them are their soundstage and imaging. To my ears, these are great for orchestral scores, film soundtracks and post-rock bands. The details in "The Ecstatics" by Explosions in The Sky can be heard clearly and makes for a very immersive listen. Soundtrack scores sound engaging, like the soundtrack to Conan The Barbarian by Basil Poledouris, where you can really get caught up by the bombastic feel of it. It really does well with these types of music. Pop music also sound good; Aizat's voice in "Years from Now" sound very clear and up front and center; while "Just Friends" by Amy Winehouse sound full and musical with it's Ska-Reggae beat.

However, I find it not working very well with Rock music. They don't sound bad, it just could be better compared to other earbuds that I use like the Faaeal Datura Pro. I'm not sure whether it's the tuning or it's my ears, but there's something happening in the mids or the mid-bass that make Rock music sound less compelling. This goes for bass-heavy music as well; it's tuning and the flat earbud design does not give bass-centric music justice.

I also think having a powerful source helps these earbuds sing. The headphone output from the Sony NW-A55 is serviceable, but adding the Fiio Mont Blanc with its bass boost makes them sound fuller and more nuanced. So DAP's or dongles that give out something extra should make these sound even better.

Conclusion

I really enjoy these earbuds. The build is beautiful with it's shiny shell and its accessories are also impressive. It's design makes them stay in my ears so well that sometimes I forget that they are there. Their sound is very good and it's awesome for certain types of music. Best of all they are priced very competitively which makes me very happy to own these.