Firstly I would like to thank Ikko 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: iBasso DX200 > Gems OH1S (stock silicone tips)
Tech Specs:
Balance Driver: Knowles 33518
Dynamic driver: 10mm Deposited Carbon Nano Dynamic Coil
Sensitivity: 109dB
Frequency: 20Hz-40KHz
Impedance: 32Ω
Cable Length: 1.2M
Connector: MMCX
Material: Aviation Aluminum Alloy
Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
The OH1S come in a really nice box, there is an outer box sleeve with some nice artwork on it, slide this off and you will find the inner box which holds the earphones and accessories. Open this up and you’ll find the earphones held tightly in an insert along with a pin badge. Remove this top layer and underneath you’ll find the rest of the accessories, the presentation is excellent and you feel like you have bought a very premium product when opening it.
Build quality feels good, the housings are a mix of plastic and metal, the MMCX connectors feel solid and the front wax guard is removable on the nozzle for cleaning (this is really cool, and will help in the long run). The cable feels very premium and well made with good strain relief and construction. Overall these feel solid in all the right places and I don’t see any longevity issues with the OH1S
Accessory wise you get plenty of tips (6 pairs of different silicone, 3 pairs of foam), a leather carry pouch and a badge with the IKKO branding on it (with a cute fox too). Overall these come with a really good selection of tips, meaning most users will get a good fit out of the box with them, I can’t fault the included accessories.
Comfort and Isolation:
The OH1S comes with a few different size tips which will greatly help users get a comfortable fit, the included tips allow for a shallow/medium insertion which tends to be very comfortable for long listening. I have no issues with the comfort, the housings are well shaped and don’t weigh much which means these are perfect for long listening sessions. These are incredibly sensitive to a good fit, and without it they sound quite sharp with very limited bass response.
Isolation is only average on these, they don’t isolate as well as a lot of other hybrid earphones out there, it might be down to how the vent on the housings works. These are ok for general use but wouldn’t be the best pick for noisy environments, this also goes for the sound signature they have too.
Sound:
Bass: The bass on the OH1s is interesting, there is moderate warmth and body from the dynamic driver but it is counteracted by a slightly forward treble. This means that at times the OH1s can come across a little lean, however there is good articulation down low with a nice level of punch too. There is body to back that punch up, well a good balance between body and punch, and only a little bit of roll-off down in the sub-bass region. The slight upper range tilt of the overall signature does somewhat detract from the impressive low end response of the OH1s. These would not suit those looking for a full and lush sound signature, they would not suit bass heads either. These are fairly track dependent in the lows too, with certain tracks having a nice underlying bass rhythm that is subtle yet noticeable with the OH1s.
Midrange: This is where the OH1s really shines, they have a mid/treble forward signature that really draws out the vocals and details in tracks instead of having a pleasant warmth smoothing things over. Male vocals have a crisp clarity that is impressive for the price, female vocals can sometimes have a bit of an edge to them and there is a little bit of sibilance at times but this again is track dependent. Guitars, especially acoustic, sound excellent with the right amount of body along with great bite when it comes to heavier riffs. These work wonders with softer genres such as folk and acoustic really highlighting finer details along with having quite a natural presentation with that kind of music. I find the upper midrange to be a little too forward when listening to heavier rock music, it can become a little fatiguing at times.
Treble: The treble, like the midrange, is presented in a more upfront manner which can be a little too hot for more sensitive listeners but the actual tonality and clarity is very good up top. There is a bit of excess energy in the lower treble that could be toned down a little with EQ if you feel inclined, but again with the right music I really wouldn’t want to change the sound of these. I have found myself more carefully picking tracks when listening to the OH1s, and they really are quite exceptional when the right music comes on. They extend into the upper treble with ease and there really isn’t any dulling down or toning down of the treble, they can be ruthless but they are always detailed and airy.
Soundstaging and instrument separation:
I have found the soundstaging to be good but not excellent, I do not find them to be the most accurate in this aspect and sometimes things are not as focussed as they should be within the soundstage.
Instrument separation however is good, with a good amount of clarity they successfully pick apart recordings with ease.
Conclusion:
When I first started listening to the OH1s I was a little worried, I found them to be a little harsh, but playing about with tips and getting a good fit allowed me to hear them as intended. I found them to have a full bodied bass response but one that is somewhat overshadowed by a forward midrange and slight uplift in the treble. These are perhaps not the best all-rounder at this price range, but I found myself getting lost in softer songs, and specifically listening to acoustic tracks that I love and rediscovering them. These have the ability to render certain genres with such clarity and delicacy that I would say they are almost unrivalled at this price point.
If you keep this in mind, the OH1s are great value – the midrange is simply captivating on these.
Sound Perfection Rating: 8/10 (these are not perfect, but paired with the right source and music and they do sound incredible)
