Quote:
mvw2?! Where are you?
Please help me on this subject:
I'm searching for the most transparent and natural sounding IEMs, within a budget of 200USD, that serves me as an upgrade from the RE0.
I have some particular questions to you:
How would you compare the sonic performance between the Yuin OK1 and the RE-Zero/RE0?
How do you compare their bass performance?
Which one responds better to equalization, or do they respond equally well?
Is the OK1 able to match the RE-262 dynamic range performance?
Did you find any major flaw on OK1's sound besides it's lack of sub-bass?
Do you find that the CK10, DBA-02 and OK1 have similar sound signatures? Which one do you like the most?
I know that you have ljokerl's Vsonic GR07, by the way...
How do you find that it compares to the OK1? Is it able to match the OK1 or RE-252 transparency, realism or sonic resolution?
Does the GR07 respond well to parametric equalization?
Thank you!
Well, if you can pay $200, you can probably pay $250 or $300. This basically allows you to buy pretty much anything out there as long as you don't mind buying used. This pretty much means just about everything out there is an option.
The OK1, RE0, and RE-Zero are all a bit different from each other.
The RE0 tries to do everything and in so struggles at the extremes. You hear high highs and low lows, but the quality of the information isn't 100%. The overall signature is slightly dark, edgy, and well detailed. It's textured but not all that articulate. It's not very dynamic which does help it show out more of the quiet stuff. I was not a personal fan of this earphone. I owned it for two weeks right when it came out and sold it. I had a slew of cheaper and crappier earphones that I would prefer to own, and that's kind of bad. This isn't to say the RE0 isn't good. It is a decent jack of all trades sort of earphone, not doing anything terrible wrong. In that, it has its strength and user following. Personally, the lack of dynamics, dark signature, need for more amperage than I could provide at the time, and limited quality of sound at the extremes made me let it go.
Next comes the RE-Zero. It, in my eyes, fixes many of the issues of the RE0. It's more neutral, more dynamic, doesn't try so hard, doesn't need wattage to not sound weak and tiny, and it's still quite well detailed and revealing. I personally feel it's a better incarnation. Well, it's not trying to be a better RE0. It simply is better as itself. The presentation is natural, playful, a little forward (limited dynamics but more than the RE0), and at the price point is rather good. It doesn't try to produce a 30Hz tone. It doesn't try to pierce 15kHz through the air, but what it does do, it does naturally and well.
The OK1 was my replacement to the RE0 back when I traded it in. The OK1 arrived, and I was blown away. Around this time I also got the ER4S and PFE as other things to try out. The OK1 is extremely textured, very fast, aggressively energetic, but dynamics are a bit constrained, and it does need amperage to drive well, had me go and buy a Meier 2Move amp in fact. The OK1 is bright. Really it can be a lot of things. It's a bud, so it depends on ear shape and such. Normally, it's bright. Bass is light but aggressive. The amount of texture and details is significant. It pretty much takes something like the CK10 to beat it. It also has a very realistic sound which can be hard to come by. Shortcomings? Sure. The thing benefits from EQing if you've got it. The driver is a little tight limiting dynamic breadth and along with the aggressive presentation does make it a little forward and a bit in-head in terms of sound stage. The lack of dynamics is the biggest shortcoming, but that isn't uncommon with a lot of analytical earphones. Many tend to be highly controlled to ensure clarity. The RE0 is like this, the RE-Zero is like this, the RE252 is like this, and so is the OK1.
Not much matches the dynamics of the RE262. We are talking an effortless amount. To give you an idea of what competes with the RE262: PFE, SE530, and C700. That's basically it. These are the only other products I've used that sound limitless in breadth.
The CK10, DBA-02, and OK1 do some things similarly. All are very fast, detailed, but the DBA-02 doesn't have the texturing. I view the DBA-02 as much like the RE0. It has a strong leading edge to the note but that's it. It lacks the fullness and texturing that should be there. It's one thing I didn't like about the RE0 and the DBA-02 as well. The CK10 and OK1 have texture and in turn flesh out reality better. I do feel the CK10 is the most "correct" earphone I've used. It sounds very realistic, is well balanced short a strong, narrow peak at 10kHz, has excellent detail, texturing, and dynamics. It does a lot of things right. As far as this making it my favorite, not quite. I did prefer the RE252 personally over the CK10. The CK10 isn't a very engaging earphone as odd as that may sound. It's more of a passive listening experience. Frankly I still really like the OK1, but I see it as a needy product. It benefits from amping and benefits from EQing, and if you have neither, you aren't getting as good a sound as you could.
The GR07 is a lot like the RE252. In terms of what I've used to date, the GR07 and RE252 are most similar in terms of what they try to do. They are both very well balanced earphones, trying to present sound evenly across the spectrum. They do approach the task differently though. The RE252 is very stark and aggressive. The GR07 is a little more laid back, smoother. The RE252 is more detailed overall, trying to present every little detail. The GR07 doesn't really attempt that. This isn't to say the GR07 lacks detail and speed, but it certainly isn't trying to be absolute about it like the RE252. The GR07 is a better choice for someone who is looking for the same level of balance but in a little more easy going format. Mind you the GR07 is still energetic, dynamic, and not particularly a laid back, smoothed out earphone. It's just not to the extreme of the RE252.