Got my Yuin PK1s today, here is what I think.
Firstly, I found that with the Tomahawk, they weren't too happy. I've had to set the Tomahawk to high gain, and with a volume at around 12 o'clock, I am enjoying it, but it still isn't WOW. I am not sure if it's my Tomahawk, or the music I am listening to, but I am not to overjoyed. I am also using the 'donut' pads, but I am concerned as to whether the sound gets affected if they are not 100% with the hole in the centre of the bud. I have notice clipping in my right ear-bud which I am not too happy about, these were bought second hand.
It's a great bud, no doubt, but still, I wasn't blown away as I thought I would have expected. They sound very similar to that of my Grado SR80s.
Newsbreak: OH MY GOD! Within Temptation - Jillian - in total ALAC lossless has just come up and WOW, the beginning orchestral choir blew me away. This has led me to understand that my music that is under the lossless quality may not shine.
So, I shall try another, totally different genre'd lossless track: Delta Goodrem - A Little Too Late. Wow, intro guitars are brilliant, and her voice is just amazing. This bud is very balanced, treats each part of the track (lows, mids and highs) with great justice.
Comfort: great, very light, the donut foam pads are nice, the cord has zero microphonics, and is not stubborn or memory prone (doesn't stay shape if rolled up or anything).
Build: they look nice, clean and professional, and seem quite sturdy.
Sound -
Isolation: this is a bud, can't expect to have isolation as great as my UE's, but, they aren't as open as that of my SR80s.
Leakage: there is a slight leakage of noise, will be heard in total silence, I can listen at an enjoyable level without disturbing those around me.
Clarity: as discussed earlier, the clarity of the music really depends on the source itself, if I am listening to Lossy music then I am definitely not going to enjoy it as much as I would Lossless music.
Soundstage: I used The Beatles - Eleanor Rigby to experiment with the soundstage, and I was quite pleased. You can feel the sounds and instruments coming from different areas. They don't feel like 2 speakers playing in my ears, they feel like the Beatles in my head!
Bass: I used a trance/techno song to test this out, but as I mentioned the clipping/crackling on bass, it wasn't very enjoyable. There was a great bass presence, nice, punchy, without harming any other aspect of the track. Very impressive at the output of this earbud!
Overall: Amped, this sounds amazing, however, was a bit concerned as to why, at first, these sonded, to put it bluntly, like crap. Maybe they needed a few minutes to open up, or I just needed to get used to the sound, but I really like these earphones, feel like fullsize cans, but despite their not so attractive looks, and substantial price-tag, they are worth it!
These are the same songs (all lossless except What a Wonderful World) I used to test out my SF5's (
Ultimate Ears Super Fi 5 Impressions), I will listen to them all again with the PK1s:
Delta Goodrem - Brave Face
Nice and crisp beats fro the drum, and brilliant vocals. Her voice sounds absolutely amazing, background singers sound awesome as well. Very very clear, her voice reaches some highs and sound absolutely brilliant! No sibilance, again, you can hear the detail in her voice, its amazing!
Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World
Wow, like the previous song, you can really appreciate the artists voice in detail, and for anyone that has heard this song, Louis' voice is wonderful, and all the instruments, especially the piano is very nicely detailed - still feeling that clipping/crackling in my right ear, really not helping me
Sakin - Braveheart Theme (Trance Remix)
Starts off with some violinistic highs which sound great, then bang, into the doof. Nice, not very deep bass, but nicely shaped, and soft. Can't compare the bass of the PK1 with my SF5's, the PK1s tend to keep everything in balance.
Linkin Park - What I've Done
Can definitely feel the sondstage, with the drums being 'far' away. Guitars sound great, again, very laidback, and well rounded sound. Vocals are nice, crisp and natural, not overpowered by the instruments. You can pinpoint instruments, like I can isolate where certein instruments are coming from - very nice
Enya - Only Time
Very natural vocals, wow, amazing. Instruments sound perfect, just amazing. Really cannot word how good the PK1s treat this song, it's mainly vocal, which are just dealt with so well. Wow!
Final Thought:
I am really enjoying these, feel like my SR80s, but without the heftyness, I am only upset at the fault in the right earpiece that results in the crackling/clipping on the bass, and even when the track has loud parts/peaks in the volume. I'd say, if it weren't for this, I'd be very very happy with them!
Update: In regards to the clipping, i am sending back to get a replacement pair - yay!
