A little update on my VSD1 experience so far. I don't have that many hours on my VSD1, maybe 50-60. Not worried so much about that than tweaking them to my taste.
So, I ended up doing a couple of things. I removed the clip and metal mesh from the nozzles. Small difference in the treble tone and tightness of the bass to my ears. There is a second metal mesh further back so I am not worried about wax/dirt. I don't have a wax problem anyway.
My other tweak was to take the foams from the Grado iGi fit kit I previously bought and remove the cores. Then I placed them reversed or facing backwards on the VSD1 nozzles. This, without trimming them shorter effectively makes the nozzle a bit longer. Then I tried out tips(this adapter of sorts allows wider tips like UE tips to be used w/o falling off in your ears) and settled on some Coby or MEE generic clear wide bore silicone tips. The tips are also short being about 7mm long.
Then after re-adjusting the articulating nozzles and finding the right fit depth(more on the shallow side) I think I got them right where I want them. Of course the depth and seal/isolation I use can vary whether I'm inside or out or amping or not.
The result is one of the more transparent dynamics I have heard in a long while. Maybe the most overall since my TF10 with 3580 tips and Silver Ray cable. The right amount of bass that is north of flat but not too strong or dominant and still has good snap and thump when called upon. Mids are clean and detailed and well separated. Dryness is pretty much gone from the mids and if I use the right interconnect the vocals can be on the sweet side. The treble is close to sibilance but quick, airy and has better tone. The metallic shimmer of cymbals was a bit off before but better now adding to the transparency. The best part is a much bigger stage than before. More air in between everything in all directions.
I haven't had any top tiers recently but some mid levels(CX985, XBA-40, CKN70) that I enjoyed but now find the tweaked VSD1 as enjoyable and performing better than all in at least a few traits.
My goal was to get the VSD1 and not the "S" since I feared the treble reach would be favored in the S and the sub-bass would not reach as low. Then be able to tweak out the things I wanted. I was quite happy when the VSD1 did reach low enough for me(not the case with my early batch GR07 or even the XBA-40) and the rather simple tweaks gave good results. The only negative result was the other phone I recently got(that was a nice complement to the VSD1) is no longer able to keep up. I can't switch back and forth as the VSD1 clearly wins now
