EraserXIV
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2008
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Here's some thoughts I put down on paper that I thought I'd share.
Disclaimer: I bought these from a reputable seller online and I am writing this review as part of a discount campaign that they are having. I am in no way affiliated with the seller and was not forced to write this review. As with all reviews, this is my opinion and other may have different experiences.
Presentation: The GR01 came in a typical VSonic packaging with a clear plastic outside box and several layers of paper/cardboard boxes inside. The presentation is very clean and I like it. Nothing too frilly and it gets the job done. You are shown an array of tips that are included and the IEMs are embedded in a clean looking foam cutout.
Accessories: The GR01 comes with a very great set of accessories and I was very surprised with the amount of tips that were provided. Definitely rivals Westone with the amount of tips you get. You are shown about 7 tips from the outside, but as you open the box, you see that they provide even more sets of tips inside the box. They definitely cover all their bases and there is bound to be a set of tips that will fit everyone. There is a vast array of tips that seem to be very similar to Sony Hybrids. They also have a set of rubber tips that have a ring of foam on the inside. It’s the first time I’ve seen tips like this and I really like the idea of it. There’s also a nice soft carrying case that is provided that seems to be faux leather.
Comfort: With the whole array of tips that are provided and the thin body of the GR01, it is one of the most comfortable IEMs I’ve ever worn. There is no fumbling around with trying to insert it at the right angle, it just works. Sound isolation is one of the best, the thin body really allows you to insert them deep into the ear.
Sound: The GR01 is a dual driver TWFK based IEM, similar to the CK10, which I used to own. I was expecting it to be more similar to the CK10, but I was pleasantly surprised. The CK10 is a great IEM and I liked it a lot when I had it. Detail retrieval is exceptional and the highs are one of the best in an IEM I’ve ever heard. However, I prefer more of a warm and sweet sound and I was a bit too sensitive to the sibilance that the CK10 had in the highs. The GR01 switches it up and while it maintains great neutrality and detail retrieval, it leans a bit more to the warm side of the spectrum. The sound is a bit more natural to me and I prefer it more to the sound that the CK10 had.
The highs are definitely smoother than the CK10, which is exactly what I was looking for. I did not have any issues with sibilance, and I tested it out on several tracks that I have that are more prone to sibilance. While it is smoother than the CK10, it still maintains a good level of detail and is even able to convey a little sparkle at times.
The mids are natural and smooth, leaning a little to the warm side. It’s in between the W4 and e-Q7 in terms of warmth, closer to the W4. Mids are pretty liquid and have good texture, but nowhere near what the RE262 provides. The RE262 still has the best set of mids I’ve ever heard on an IEM, but the GR01 does a great job for a BA in this regard. On top of that, the GR01 doesn't require an amp to sound its best, which the RE262 does.
In typical BA fashion, bass is very clean and tight, but still has a decent amount of punch to it and can still shine through on tracks that you expect to have more bass. It’s actually surprisingly dynamic and I feel the bass is adequate. I will admit though, there are times I can feel myself wanting the kind of bass you can get out of a real dynamic driver. Compared to the CK10, if my memory serves me correctly, the bass has more body to it. The bass extension may just be a hair behind the CK10, but it is definitely very close.
Overall I’m satisfied with the purchase. It’s a good compromise between the warmth and sweetness I liked from the RE262 and the speed and detail that BAs can bring to the table. In comparison with all the BAs I’ve owned in the past, I still think I prefer the SM3 more for its more mid-forward presentation and the stronger bass, but that's more of a personal thing. However, for the price, it's amazing how close it comes with some of the top tier BA IEMs I've owned. I actually prefer it to the SE535 and the UM3X. You definitely cannot go wrong with the GR01. It’s close behind the SM3 and reminds me a bit of the e-Q5 and e-Q7, which I hold in really high regard.
Disclaimer: I bought these from a reputable seller online and I am writing this review as part of a discount campaign that they are having. I am in no way affiliated with the seller and was not forced to write this review. As with all reviews, this is my opinion and other may have different experiences.
Presentation: The GR01 came in a typical VSonic packaging with a clear plastic outside box and several layers of paper/cardboard boxes inside. The presentation is very clean and I like it. Nothing too frilly and it gets the job done. You are shown an array of tips that are included and the IEMs are embedded in a clean looking foam cutout.
Accessories: The GR01 comes with a very great set of accessories and I was very surprised with the amount of tips that were provided. Definitely rivals Westone with the amount of tips you get. You are shown about 7 tips from the outside, but as you open the box, you see that they provide even more sets of tips inside the box. They definitely cover all their bases and there is bound to be a set of tips that will fit everyone. There is a vast array of tips that seem to be very similar to Sony Hybrids. They also have a set of rubber tips that have a ring of foam on the inside. It’s the first time I’ve seen tips like this and I really like the idea of it. There’s also a nice soft carrying case that is provided that seems to be faux leather.
Comfort: With the whole array of tips that are provided and the thin body of the GR01, it is one of the most comfortable IEMs I’ve ever worn. There is no fumbling around with trying to insert it at the right angle, it just works. Sound isolation is one of the best, the thin body really allows you to insert them deep into the ear.
Sound: The GR01 is a dual driver TWFK based IEM, similar to the CK10, which I used to own. I was expecting it to be more similar to the CK10, but I was pleasantly surprised. The CK10 is a great IEM and I liked it a lot when I had it. Detail retrieval is exceptional and the highs are one of the best in an IEM I’ve ever heard. However, I prefer more of a warm and sweet sound and I was a bit too sensitive to the sibilance that the CK10 had in the highs. The GR01 switches it up and while it maintains great neutrality and detail retrieval, it leans a bit more to the warm side of the spectrum. The sound is a bit more natural to me and I prefer it more to the sound that the CK10 had.
The highs are definitely smoother than the CK10, which is exactly what I was looking for. I did not have any issues with sibilance, and I tested it out on several tracks that I have that are more prone to sibilance. While it is smoother than the CK10, it still maintains a good level of detail and is even able to convey a little sparkle at times.
The mids are natural and smooth, leaning a little to the warm side. It’s in between the W4 and e-Q7 in terms of warmth, closer to the W4. Mids are pretty liquid and have good texture, but nowhere near what the RE262 provides. The RE262 still has the best set of mids I’ve ever heard on an IEM, but the GR01 does a great job for a BA in this regard. On top of that, the GR01 doesn't require an amp to sound its best, which the RE262 does.
In typical BA fashion, bass is very clean and tight, but still has a decent amount of punch to it and can still shine through on tracks that you expect to have more bass. It’s actually surprisingly dynamic and I feel the bass is adequate. I will admit though, there are times I can feel myself wanting the kind of bass you can get out of a real dynamic driver. Compared to the CK10, if my memory serves me correctly, the bass has more body to it. The bass extension may just be a hair behind the CK10, but it is definitely very close.
Overall I’m satisfied with the purchase. It’s a good compromise between the warmth and sweetness I liked from the RE262 and the speed and detail that BAs can bring to the table. In comparison with all the BAs I’ve owned in the past, I still think I prefer the SM3 more for its more mid-forward presentation and the stronger bass, but that's more of a personal thing. However, for the price, it's amazing how close it comes with some of the top tier BA IEMs I've owned. I actually prefer it to the SE535 and the UM3X. You definitely cannot go wrong with the GR01. It’s close behind the SM3 and reminds me a bit of the e-Q5 and e-Q7, which I hold in really high regard.
