Vsonic VC-02 Review:
I recently traded some things and ended up with a pair of VC-02’s and decided to review them.
They have had over 50hrs of burn-in and no differences were noted.
Gear used:
IPod Classic 160gb (rockboxed) > VC-02 with green medium tips
Specs:
Transducers/Drivers: 3mm High Dynamic CCAW Driver
Rated Impedance: 16ohms
Frequency range: 10 ~ 25000Hz
Sensitivity: 103dB at 1mW
Maximum input power: 30mW
Plug: 3.5 mm
Cable: Silver core cabling
Cable length: 1.3 meters
Packaging, Accessories and Build quality:
I did not get these in retail packaging, so I cannot comment on packaging I’m afraid.
Accessories are good, they come with a cable clip, a velvet pouch and a wide array of tips. You’ll be bound to find at least one pair that fits, i would have liked to see a clamshell case though.
The build quality is fairly average, the housing is cheap plastic but I do like the cable, it feels well built and it detachable. The detachable cable is a good idea, but the cable disconnects too easily IMO. They use westone type pins and it would be easy to make a custom cable. 90 degree jack has good strain relief and so does the end of the cable where it joins the housing, there is no chin slider on the cable.
Fit, isolation, cable noise and driver flex:
These are tiny IEM’s and with a wide array of tips most people will find a tip that fits them, I found the M green silicone tips to fit best and once inserted they are comfy and you forget about them after a while. The thin, slimline housing lets you get quite deep insertion.
Isolation is good if you go for deep insertion, although it would be better were the housing better quality plastic or metal.
Cable noise is not a problem, and these can also be worn easily over the ear.
Driver flex is also no a problem, the micro driver fairs well here.
Sound:
Lows:
These have good impact with great body and control, but there is a mid-bass hump. Sub-bass is still audible down until around 30hz but with outside noises this will be the first thing to go. The lows are tight and fast due to the micro dynamic driver, whilst still remaining good slam when called for, kicks never sound thin or hollow and they fair well with EDM due to the slight V shaped sound signature.
Mids:
The mids sound rather veiled and muffled, which I think is the result of the mid-bass hump, it interferes with male vocals, masking them. It mainly affects male vocals as female vocals don’t fair so badly. The mids are definitely a step behind the lows and highs, but they still retain some good detail but they are just a little too veiled for my tastes. One good thing is they don’t suffer from sibilance.
Highs:
Quite a satisfactory amount of treble shines through, they may not be greatly detailed or sparkly but they are portrayed fairly well. Cymbal crashes are well portrayed and snare snaps are quick and tight, but they highs do become a little splashy on busier tracks. Spacial queues in the highs are easy to pick out and pinpoint the position within the soundstage.
Soundstage, Imaging and Instrument separation:
The soundstage is fairly average in size, being a little wider than usual with good space between the instruments.
Imaging is very good with clean separation and a very convincing centre image.
Instrument separation is great with good space between the different instruments.
Conclusion:
A V shaped sound sig which sounds great with EDM and the likes, I find the mids a little too recessed for rock but they still handle it very well. Metal fairs equally well as they have good speed and the mid bass hump gives them great punch.
They are good little IEM’s with great comfort and they are very fun to listen to, but i prefer the Soundmagic E30 for a more balanced versatile IEM.
Tracks Used:
Skrillex – First Of The Year (Equinox) (320kbps MP3)
Paramore – Franklin (320kbps MP3)
Diana Krall – The Girl In The Other Room (FLAC)
Deolinda – Passou Por Mim E Sorriu (live) (ALAC)
Suicide Silence – Unanswered (FLAC)
Massive Attack – Angel (ALAC)
Eat Static – Dzhopa Dream (ALAC)
The XX – Crystalised (FLAC)
Funeral For A Friend – Bend Your Arms To Look Like Wings (ALAC)
Mumford & Sons – Little Lion Man (FLAC)
The Scene Aesthetic – Humans (259kbps MP3)
A Hero A Fake – Swallowed By The Sea (254kbps MP3)
Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, Spring Allegro (ALAC)
Johnny Craig – Children Of Divorce (161kbps MP3)
Deadmau5 + Kaskade – I Remember (Caspa Remix) (320kbps MP3)
Black Uhuru – Utterance (ALAC)
We Are The In Crowd – Never Be What You Want (226kbps MP3)
Silverstein – Discovering The Waterfront (320kbps MP3)
Concept Of Thought – Our Thought (FLAC)
Nirvana – Something In The Way (Unplugged) (ALAC)
Interesting. I did not find the mids veiled at all personally but I agree on the bass being tight and treble being splashy. I find that the tips can alter the bass and mids a bit as I started with the bigger tip but ended up using the smaller one since it made the sound more neutral to me. I like the signature a lot.
I hate it getting detached easily as I see myself losing the housing itself some day.
They are not hugely recessed I just found them lacking some presence, taking a backseat behind the lows and highs. No doubt they are great but could use some design refinement as well as a little boost in the mids