Venture Electronics Monk Metapod

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Disclaimer:

• I don’t read FR graphs. I only use my ears, as earphones should be used.
• Venture Electronics sent this unit to me in an exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Rest assured that this review will do its best to devoid from any bias/es as much as possible.
• The one that I will be reviewing is the SPC version of the Metapod. There is currently a “standard” version of the Metapod that is cheaper than the SPC version. There may, or may not have a difference in sound between the two versions.
• 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: 4-8 hours per day, 5 days.

Source/s used:

• - Non-HiFi smartphone (Infinix Note 12 G96), PC.
• - Local Files via Foobar, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

IEM/Earbud/Setup configuration: Stock orange earbud donut foams, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 40-60% volume.

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Sound signature:

• The Venture Electronics Metapod seems to share the same sound as what the Apple’s earpods have - but in a more neutral, cleaner, vocal-forward manner. If we’ll be more specific, it can sound borderline bright at times, but thoughtfully tuned, since it never sounded harsh or overbearing.

Lows:

• I am actually surprised that the Metapod is clean and firm in this region, probably because I am accustomed to the Apple earpods’ chunky and loose bass character that warms the overall sound. The Metapod is midbass dominant, punchy and clean, while keeping a substantial amount of bass whenever the track calls for it. The bass has texture and detail for its asking price, but I wouldn’t call it as a “vivid” type of bass. This is also not for bassheads, that is for sure, especially for those people who are accustomed to the IEM fit. Overall, I enjoyed the bass character that the Metapod have, and I find them quite versatile on any tracks you use it with, assuming that you are not a basshead and you know how flathead earbuds operate from in-ear monitors.

Mids:

• Since this is a product from Venture Electronics, I kinda expected the Metapod to excel in this area, and they sure did not disappoint. Thisregion is the highlight of this flathead earbud. From what I remember, the Apple Earbuds were already midcentric, but the Venture Electronics Metapod took it further by tidying up the whole region while keeping a certain amount of thickness and presence to it, especially within the vocal department. The lower mids do not exhibit any warmth or midbass bleed, which keeps the overall sound clean and quick in decay. Upper mids, particularly the vocals, are forward in presence and are very airy and clear. In my humble opinion, the Metapod does not exhibit any serious harshness or peaks, but the vocals may sound shouty on certain tracks and instances, particularly on higher volumes. These instances are few on my end because I don’t usually crank up my volume with the Metapod. Overall, this region is the most forward out of all the frequencies, and is important since the Metapod is designed to be an everyday carry and to handle calls clearly.

Treble:

• As for the treble, nearly the same, but not exactly the same as what the mids has, in terms of presence. I wouldn’t call it bright as well, but it is definitely far from sounding dark. Detail retrieval is average for its price, as it can render most details well for its asking price.

Soundstage, Imaging and Separation:

• The overall technical performance of the Metapod is decent for its price. It isn’t something that will punch above its weight, but it will not be an underwhelming set under 30 USD either. The soundstage is one of the unique sets I have encountered so far, as it is taller than wide, with a decent amount of depth. Separation and layering is decent at best, and may experience some congestion on very heavy passages. Imaging is accurate enough for the for the most part, even on competitive FPS games.

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Other flathead earbuds comparisons!

Venture Electronics Monk Plus 7th Edition

• The MP7 is more balanced and versatile than the Metapod, while the Metapod excels more on the vocals and instruments. Both earbuds are excellent for their asking price, it’s just that they have different use case scenarios.

Apple Earpods (3.5mm version, around 2013-2015 variant)

• The Metapod and Apple Earpods share the same character wherein the mids is the highlight, but both leans on different sides of the spectrum. The Earpods leans to a more warmer character, adding a bit body on its bass in mids, at the cost of its decay speed. The Metapod on the other hand prefers it clean and agile. Cable and mic quality is also better on the Metapod when compared.

Faaeal Iris Ancestor

• The Faaeal Iris Ancestor is warmer, thicker, and darker in sound when compared to the Metapod. It is also noticeably slower in decay too, affecting the overall technical performance and resolution.

Venture Electronics Monk SL

• The Monk SL refines the overall sound further, by toning down the presence of the mids slightly and adding a bit of body, making the sound of the SL wider and smoother when compared. Technicalities, particularly the soundstage, are better on the Monk SL, which is understandable due to its slightly higher price tag.

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Pros:

• A comfortable, capable, modern EDC flathead earbuds!
• Nearly neutral, midcentric sound signature!
• Punchy, clean bass response!
• Forward, airy mids!
• Non-fatiguing upper frequencies!
• Decent technical performance for its asking price!
• Comfortable fit and comfort!
• Clear mic quality!
• USB-C is the modern norm for a wired listening experience!
• Generous amount of accessories for its price!

Cons:

• Instances of “shouty mids” can be experienced on certain tracks, on higher volumes.
• Fit can be challenging for those ears who are accustomed to the MX500 and PK shell form factor.

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Despite not being a fan of the disappearance of the 3.5mm port on most of the modern devices myself, I have to admit that it is a pleasing experience to use the Metapod on my modern devices. In my humble opinion, the Metapod is the “cheapest”, well-implemented solution for those 3.5mm diehards like me who do not want to dip into the wireless earphones system, but wants to utilize the USB-C as their audio port, assuming that you prefer a midcentric, nearly neutral set in a familiar EDC form factor. This one goes with my everyday carry, Venture Electronics!

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Pairing recommendations:

• Source: The Venture Electronics Metapod is already equipped with a USB Type-C plug for you to use it right away with your smartphone or PC.
• Eartips: The earbud foams included fit well with the Metapod. I recommend you using the full foams for this one to add a bit of thickness to the overall sound.

Thank you for reading!

Non-affiliated links here:

• https://shopee.ph/Venture-Electroni...8?sp_atk=5c926d0c-7ec4-4cda-a4cc-8fbb87c1361d

Additional Photos Here: