Firstly I would like to thank Linsoul for sending me the ThieAudio Ghost 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:
JDS Labs Atom DAC+ > Singxer SA-1 > Ghost
iBasso DX200 > Ghost
Tech Specs:
• DRIVERS – 40mm Sapphire Composite Dynamic Driver
• IMPEDANCE – 60 ohms
• SENSITIVITY – 91dB @1kHz
• FREQ. RESPONSE – 20Hz-20kHz
• CABLE TERMINATION – Interchangeable 3.5mm wire
• HEADPHONES CONNECTORS – Dual 3.5mm
https://www.linsoul.com/products/thieaudio-ghost
Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories
The packaging is simple, ThieAudio have gone back to basics with the Ghost packaging but in no means does it detract from the product itself. A nice-looking outer sleeve with detailed pictures on the front and a list of the specifications on the side. Slide this sleeve off and you have a thick black cardboard box, lift the top off and you’ll find the included case held in a foam insert. You’ll find the headphones in their case, whilst the packaging is basic and functional, it doesn’t look too bad and doesn’t take away from the product, especially in this price range.
The headphones are well built, and I really like decisions that have been made when it comes to the design. You have a well-padded headband with metal yokes, that hold plastic cups with grilles made from thin aluminium. All of this comes together to create a lightweight yet sturdy feeling pair of headphones. These are open back headphones, and the open grille looks lovely, however the gold trim ring may not be to everyone’s tastes. The earpads fitted are soft velour, but the inner sponge feels average.
The cable is a proper 4-core ribbon cable, it’s flat in nature but I actually found it to be very comfortable in use. Strain relief seems adequate rather than excellent, however these are more of a home headphone so I don’t see an issue with this. Finally, the dual 3.5mm sockets are great, and it’s definitely a cable standard that needs to be more commonly adopted. One small detail that I will commend ThieAudio on, is the inclusion of small foam pads that stop the cups hitting the yokes and making a noise when taking them off and on again – small things like this make a difference.
Accessory wise you get a good clamshell case that is semi-hardshell meaning good protection whilst in transit. You get the audio cable and a 6.3mm to 3.5mm jack adapter – the usual suspects but nothing is missing and the included case is great for storing the headphones in.
Comfort and Driveability
The ThieAudio Ghost are a lightweight headphone with a soft cable, this does go a long way in creating a comfortable headphone. The headband is well padded which hasn’t caused me any problems, the only thing that is noticeable is the clamping force is a little tight. This can usually be remedied by leaving them stretched over a few books for a couple of days. The earpads are supportive, not letting the tops of your ears rest against the inner foam and driver, which is a bonus.
These headphones are not the easiest to drive, my DX200 did an ok job at powering them but they really come alive with clean desktop power. My Singxer SA-1 is perfectly up to this task and drives the ThieAudio Ghost with ease and authority, these really wake up when powered properly and I highly recommend using them with a good headphone amp.
Sound
Bass: The ThieAudio Ghost have a slightly warm tilt to their sound, there is a helping of added body from the bass that adds a slightly warmth to the whole sound but without making them sound muddy or overly coloured. The lows are well behaved, if lacking a little punch at times, articulate yes, but hard hitting they are not. The bass is always well controlled and never becomes the focus, yet it is always present and extends easily into the sub-bass. I really like the fullness they have down low, it’s a smooth sound but done very well to the point where it is relaxing and not distracting and veiled.
Listening to heavier tracks they don’t quite have the visceral punch that other headphones pull off, they don’t have that sense of immediacy or scale, but what they do is make the sound have an almost liquid fluidity that is just enjoyable. It’s easy to lose yourself in the music whilst listening, they make you stop analysing tracks, they want you to listen and enjoy.
Midrange: The midrange is not the kind that grabs your attention and stands out, these are a balanced to slightly warm sounding headphone and the midrange almost comes across as a little dull at times. Rest assured it’s there, doing it’s job, and maybe I’m just used to a more mid-centric sound signature, but the Ghost lack some bite to the midrange that causes it to sort of go about it’s business without any real shine to it. This almost sounds negative, but in all fairness, it fits very well with the overall sound signature, the midrange is clean and well separated with great detail retrieval.
Electric guitars might lack bite, but vocals come across with great tonality, and you won’t miss out on the finer details like fingers running up a fret board. They just don’t stand out, they are not made to grab your attention, instead to just be there as part of the bigger picture.
Treble: The treble on the Ghost is buttery smooth, and never jarring, it has a sweetness to it that prevents it from ever becoming fatiguing. Quantity is a little on the subdued side, but there is excellent air up top that prevents them from ever sounding closed in and overly warm. The transition from upper midrange to the treble is devoid of any peaks, sibilance is well controlled and these would suit those who are treble sensitive. As I mentioned before these lack a little bite, but the drives seem to benefit from great transient response allowing for snappy snares and a controlled sound. The treble doesn’t seem to have any issues with extension either, there is no noticeable early roll off.
So whilst these don’t have the most exciting treble performance out there, they have good tonality up top and it’s composed without every becoming troublesome. The nice thing about the treble here is that, whilst slightly subdued, the Ghost is not missing detail or air at all.
Instrument Separation and Soundstaging
The ThieAudio Ghost have a well separated sound that is easy to pick apart should you wish, however the overall sound is very cohesive and presents the sound as a whole without sounding detached at all. These are not analytical, yet they have good technical performance which does allow you to easily hear each separate instrument.
Soundstaging is a little limited to be honest, these are not a super wide sounding headphone, but they are not congested in the slightest. There is plenty of space within the soundstage, and there are out of head experiences to be had, it’s really easy to pinpoint musicians within the soundstage however the overall softer sound leads to a little more restricted headspace.
Conclusion
The ThieAudio Ghost is a hugely enjoyable headphone, and when you take in to account the packaging, build quality and sound quality it really is incredible value for money. These are not a headphone that instantly wow, there is nothing overly boosted within their frequency range, instead they offer a mildy u-shaped sound signature with a hint of warmth overall. They have an easy going sound that is just a pleasure to listen to, and these are easy to recommend.
Overall ThieAudio have done a superb job with the Ghost, it gets top marks from me for being such a likeable headphone with no real downsides. You really do get a lot of headphone for your money here, however they do benefit from having a good desktop source.
Sound Perfection Rating: 10/10 (Great build, excellent comfort, hugely enjoyable sound for a low price)