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Trebles are a tad airier on OH1S but note definition is more organic on A3000, whereby OH1S sometimes comes accoss a bit thin on some details. It was pleasing to know that even small USB-C dongles and portable Bluetooth gizmos were able to awake subterranean bass notes in no time, OH10 were always engaging and hard smalling no matter the source, yep, I’ve heavily head-banged even out of a smartphone.
The OH10 is V Shape sounding IEM and it has deep and well controlled bass, slightly thin midrange, and noticeably emphasis on upper midrange and treble.The sheer number of ear tips included with the Gems is impressive and can likely be attributed to the unusual oval-shaped nozzles on the IEMs. While the foam tips are standard round-shaped versions (albeit quite short), all the silicone tips are longer and oval-shaped. This is where the division between those who have acquired the taste for the Gems and those who have not, occurs. The highs are in most instances intense but satisfying. At the beginning of my testing, on occasions I felt this intensity went a step further and came across as sharp and even spicy. However, call it burn-in or brain burn-in I could not hear the spikes after the first week or so. The IKKO OH10 bring the rumble down under! Do the OH10 bring the rumble down under? Yes, yes they do. Thank you for asking. Midrange As for me, I like it personally. Who would I recommend this to? Someone who’s looking for a highly resolving hybrid IEM that doesn’t have the BA timbre and flat bass response. I will not recommend this to someone who prefers meatier bass response and also slightly darker tonality.
Sure, the cable may require some untangling when removing it from a case, but after a few moments, that’s sorted, and you can forget that it’s there (as it should be). The OH1S really shone in the mids. They were open and detailed and combined excellent separation with great clarity. The timbre of instruments was very natural and there was a good sense of space.Despite their diminutive stature, the Gems deliver the impression of a remarkably spacious soundstage for a pair of IEMs at this price point. Likely due to their clear and articulate nature, instrument separation and spatial location are well conveyed. The Gems tend towards a leaner and more analytical presentation, especially when compared to the Obsidian.
Not in the sense of difficulty. Wearing them is not problematic nor uncomfortable at all per se – the other way around, actually! – but it just takes a brief audition to realise sound, with particular regards to highmids and presence trebles, do change depending on how you position the housings into your external ear. Everyone’s ears are different, so I can’t promise that the OH10 will fit and feel as good in your particular head holes. So there is some risk associated with blindly buying IEMs with this unusually high weight. Internals Signature analysis Tonality General tonality is bright-neutral, timbre is dry-centric. The presentation is a mild reversed-L with rulerflat midbass, mids taking the lead role but without getting too “important”, supported but very nice, airy and quite detailed trebles. Coherence between the DD and BA drivers’ different nature is properly taken care of and the entire presentation is choesive and well merged. Thankfully, there are a few stand-out manufacturers with a focus more on quality than quantity. IKKO is one such company that has captured my attention. With only a few available IEM models, each IKKO release is something different. None are carbon copies of other IEMs, and all stand on their own with unique sound signatures and construction.
The Gems are able to deliver a punchy low-end, although no one will accuse them of being bass-heavy. When the music calls for it, they provide the goods to nod your head or tap your toes. All the while they remain clear, fast, and snappy sounding. It’s an engaging sound signature that reminds me of the experience of listening to good monitor speakers, rather than massive subwoofers. On soundstage and imaging there’s no game: A3000 is holographic and extremely precise. Layering and separation are I would say on par though. Detachable MMCX Cable—-OH1S upgrade cable is composed of 127um high-purity single crystal copper silver-plated magnetic core Traditionally-shaped round silicone tips, such as Spinfits, can be used on the Gems’ oval-shaped nozzles as long as they fit the 5.7mm diameter.
Nope, they aren’t for bass-heads. Those folks need to move on and go buy the Obsidian. But for anyone looking for a more neutral and analytical sound signature, the Gems will provide all that they could want. Ok, so it’s much more likely the Obsidian are named for their glassy exterior finish than for any mystical powers. How do you make a gem shine? You polish it. More and more, until you achieve a beautiful and deep luster. That same level of care and polish is evident in the IKKO Gems. From their physical design to their refined sound signature, the Gems really do shine. The Gems really are gems! I found them to pair well with copper cable,it will kinda tame down the upper mids a little for those who find them to be too glaring Sure, the weight might scare some folks off, and it would be an issue if they weren’t so gosh darn comfortable. The included case is an odd one, and the thin cable may trigger some buyers. But all that stuff is of far lesser importance compared to sound quality, and that’s where the OH10 excel. Spinning rapidly, at full extension of the cable (and much like the speeding meteorites they resemble) you definitely do not want to get hit in the face with the OH10 Obsidian.
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The vast majority of my listening was done with my iPhone paired to the IKKO Zerda ITM01 portable DAC/ amp and my portable rig comprised of a Hidizs AP 80 Pro DAP and a Chord Mojo. The Gems plugged into the IKKO Zerda DAC/amp. Does very well in the bass and technicalities department but not so much in the midrange and the treble.
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