I just got the Hippo VBs today and they are an improvement....
The fit is much better for my ear than the ath-cks55's so that is nice. I am still using the Comply t400 tips I got so they stay in place very well. The VBs came with a large assortment of tips so maybe there is another tip that will work as well.
As for the bass it does have more amplitude than the cks55's but they do not go as low frequency wise as the 55's but they go low enough for most music. For some reason it seems as though the volume does not get as loud as the 55's using the same device. They both say the sensitivity is 105 db/mw but maybe it is do to the Impedance being different. The VB's are 32 ohms and the 55's are 17 ohms
The volume issue isn't that big of a deal because I don't want to blow my ear drums out, but it would be nice to have more potential when I am strictly listening to a dubstep track with all bass and no real highs though.
I haven't played too much with the screw on back to the VB's but I think the box is mislabeled when it comes to the tips. Based on the box it seems like more bass should come from the backs with 3 dots and a filter on the inside. I seem get the most bass with the back with no dots and no filter.
All in all the VB's have the most bass of the IEMs I have tried, but I was really hoping for MIND BLOWING instead of just impressive. Hopefully some of the other members with experience with the VB's and other IEMs can compare them to even more bass head IEMs.
I may stay with the VB's but then again maybe I will throw more money at this little obsession of mine HAHAHAHA I mean really are budgets for, other than to be thrown out the window ?
Zac