Firstly I would like to thank Xtenik for sending me this sample for review.
*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings
Gear Used:
Yulong DA10 / Audio Opus #2 > OH1
Tech Specs:
Balanced Armature Knowles 33518
Dynamic driver 10mm polymer composite titanium-plated diaphragm dynamic driver
Sensitivity 106dB
Frequency range 20-40kHZ
Impedance 18ohm
Cable length 1.2m
Connector 2-pin 0.78mm
Cable type 4 strands of 8 high-purity oxygen-free copper-plated 5n silver-plated
https://www.xtenik.com/product/ikko-oh1/
Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
The OH1 come in a rather neat and compact little box, white on the outside with a picture of the IEM’s on the front. On the back you’ll find the technical specifications. Slide off the white sleeve and you’ll find a matte black IKKO branded box. Open this up and you’ll find a cardboard sleeve with a manual and warranty card in it. Underneath this you’ll find the IEM’s tightly held in place, with the tips below and a pouch underneath. Overall the packaging feels great for the price.
Build quality is solid, they have aluminium shells that are extremly well finished and the cable is silver plated copper. The angled 3.5mm jack has good strain relief, there are pre-moulded ear hook but sadly no chin slider. The IEM’s use 0.78mm 2-pin connectors so getting replacements will be easy, and the sockets are tight. Overall a very well built IEM, that also looks great in person.
Accessory wise you get a soft fabric pouch and 2 different sets of tips, one for a more mid centric tuning, the other for a more balanced tuning. The cable does come with a little velcro strip that keeps it tidy. Overall they come with everything needed and most people should be able to get a good fit with the included tips.
Comfort and Isolation:
The OH1 are very ergonomically shaped with rounded inner edges that fit really well in my ears. The cable is soft and fits over my ears with ease. Overall I have no issues with the comfort at all.
Isolation is average to good, these are vented and also fit fairly shallow in your ears which means they are great for normal use but do fall behind when compared to some fully sealed models.
Sound:
Lows: The lows are taken care of by a single 10mm titanium dynamic driver, this driver has been very well tuned to go deep with regards to extension and add body to the sound when required. The best part is that the driver is incredibly responsive and manages to keep up with faster tracks easily. The OH1 do not have a bass heavy sound, the bass keeps well in line with the rest of the frequency response but hits with authority and body. There is no real bleed that causes warming of the lower midrange. Overall the bass is controlled and well balanced yet adds a nice amount of body and impact to the sound.
Midrange: The midrange is quite linear, guitars and vocals always cut through with good clarity and detail. There is good separation in the midrange with great spatial imaging. Tonality is good, the midrange sounds natural with great definition. I think the detail level is very impressive, punching above their price point. The OH1 handle pretty much anything you can throw at them, yet the midrange always stays clearly audible. The OH1 do not suffer from an upper midrange peak that brings out artificial clarity and sibilance, meaning the transition from midrange to treble is smooth.
Highs: The highs are not harsh or too in your face, they strike a fine balance of being present yet never becoming the centre of attention. They extend with ease and balance out the overall signature perfectly. The highs have great directionality, allowing you to easily pinpoint instruments in the mix. It’s really hard to write much about the top end on the OH1, it isn’t peaky or harsh, it isn’t fatiguing and sits just right in the mix. I can only imagine those that are incredibly sensitive to treble might have an issue.
Soundstaging is good, there is a good sense of width from the OH1, height is a little more limited though. Instrument separation is excellent.
Conclusion:
The OH1 were actually hard to write about, as they seem to do a lot right. That’s harder to write about than something that has more anomalies. The OH1 have a well balanced sound signature (slight U shaped) with a little injected heft down low and energy up top. The midrange is quite linear and the top end is airy and extended without harshness. For the price I really cannot fault the OH1, you normally only get this level of clarity and control from more expensive models.
Sound Perfection Rating: 9/10 (Controlled, balanced and just downright enjoyable)