Alrighty! I got my R02-Pro's on Friday. Here's the verdict:
They are very good canalphones. The sound is very detailed, and the soundstage quite large for a canalphone (at least compared to my Sony Fontopia EX-51's which were a bit too muddy and harsh, and my girlfriend's Sennheiser CX300's which I find sound very dull). They have solid, but not exagerated bass response, which is nice and punchy, with reasonable sustain. The sound is reasonably balanced and rounded, and brings out detail in tracks that I haven't hears with other canalphones. The highs are comfortably bright and crisp, but compared to studio 'phones they're a bit lacking (of course), losing some of the top-end twinkle (in this case Sony MRD-7506's). Just now I listen to "The Becoming" by Nine Inch Nails (the new version on "And All That Could Have Been"), and I can clearly hear a little plucked violin that is far less audible in the CX300's. Like I say, they're very good.
The reason I say very good, and not great, is because they are a bit harsh. A little bit heavy on the mids. I suppose this is as described by the frequency chart. I'm sitting here now listening to Hunter by Bjork on my iPod. With her signature voice the loud notes are almost painful. This is a powerful, and unique song, but far from a harsh song. While the wide spectrum of frequencies is handled admirably by these budget drivers, there are just a couple of moments where you're caught off guard at higher listening volumes. I've run them through metal, punk, jazz, classical, pop, hip-hop, drum'n'bass, folk, blues, rock, industrial, trance and who knows what else, and I'm left with noticable ear fatigue after about an hour or so of solid listening. Things start out sounding a little harsh. Then my ears adjust after 20 minutes or so, but after an hour things are getting uncomfortable (which has happened over a few listening sessions since I received them).
Another point to make, and I know this is probably a symptom of a single driver design more than anything, but I feel the exagerated mids are saturating the drivers, reducing the impact and sustain of the bass. I tested this theory by EQ'ing out some of the 2K and 8K region, and the effect was reduced.
Moving on past the sound, we get to the physical design of the product. The cord feels solid, yet nice and flexible, and they don't tangle easily (so far). The enclosures are actually of a higher quality then I expected from the pictures. The stems are nice and rubbery, and the driver enclosure feels solid. Not too plasticy.
As for the earbud tips, I never had the chance to try the original R02's, but I'm not sure whether to say the new replaceable earbuds are any better. The small tips are of no use to me, but feel solid enough for those with smaller ear canals. The mid-sized tips are reasonable, but they feel very thin and flimsy, and they seem to be very hit-and-miss in terms of getting the 'phones to seal properly, especially if you push them in too far and they break the seal (at which point you must remove and fit again). This is in contrast to the tips from the Fontopias, which are almost identical in design (perhaps less than 1mm difference in diameter). The Fontopia tips are made of a thicker rubber, and seal properly every time when fitted to the VSonics. Next size up is the (extra) large tips, which are enormous, flimsy, and probably of use to no one. I doubt they'd ever seal well. They're just too big and too flimsy. Last, but not least, are the bi-flange tips, which fit beautifully every time, providing a nice seal and good isolation (and making the earbuds look like retro space lasers). I have found with all the fiddling, removing, and replacing of earbuds the bi-flange buds feel a little scratchy when I remove them as the inner flange seems to catch in my ear and spread as they're removed, but I've had them in and out of my ears a few dozen times over the last 24 hours so I doubt this would affect many. They seal as well and sound the same as the mid-sized Fontopia buds, so I may end up switching to those in the long-run.
Overall, I like these canalphones, but they're also quite disappointing, not because they're bad, but because they're so good for the price that the shortfalls leave you wanting that little bit more. I've focussed a lot on the negatives a bit too much... They're just let down by the slightly harsh emphasis in the mids, and cheap materials for the earbud tips. They're well suited to some music, but not others. They can emphasise some of the harsher tones of very well-mixed good songs. Bjork and Chilli Peppers leave me slightly cringing at higher volumes. At this price, they sound very good, and I'd definitely recommend them over the Fontopia's or CX300's. However, without any other similar or higher priced models to test against I can't really say whether these are the best buy or not. Perhaps I'll fork out the cash for some more 'phones soon and give a proper comparison.
CONCLUSION
Overall Sound: B
Value: A+
FYI - I tested these against Sony EX51's, MDR-7506's, and Sennheiser CX300, alternating between my iPod, and my PC, running iTunes with both mp3's and CD's through the USB audio interface of my Yamaha MW12 mixing console. At times I was comparing the same song from all three sources/formats. By quickly switching between them.
EDIT: I changed some of my comments as they spoke too harshly of these good 'phones. Don't want to unnecessarily put people off now!
Goodbye Vsonic VS-R02, Hello R02-Pro!
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by Marcus » Sat Jan 19, 2008 3:55 pm
I've certainly heard harsher models, including the previous model 
One thing to keep in mind is that if you're testing Californication, it's a very bad album for headphones because it's quite poorly mastered. It'll sound harsh and fatiguing on almost anything really.
I'm pretty confident saying if the build quality of the Vsonics was better they'd be a lot more expensive. Sound quality isn't perfect, but it's awfully good for the price.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you're testing Californication, it's a very bad album for headphones because it's quite poorly mastered. It'll sound harsh and fatiguing on almost anything really.
I'm pretty confident saying if the build quality of the Vsonics was better they'd be a lot more expensive. Sound quality isn't perfect, but it's awfully good for the price.
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by bteq » Sat Jan 19, 2008 5:44 pm
I definitely agree with what you're saying Marcus. Overall I'd rate them a B (assuming the perfect canalphones would be an A+). They are great value. The sound is very clear, and I can hear detail in songs that I'd completely forgotten (eg. I forgot about that little scratchy twinkle in a blasted trumpet). They're too good in a way. They're close enough to being extremely good that they leave me begging for that tiny bit more. That few dB drop in mids.
As for build quality, the only thing that lets them down is the flimsy earbuds. The Fontopia's cost loss (and admittedly sounded worse) but came with just slightly better tips. I think what is happening with the mid-sized tips is the material is causing them to fold if pushed too far into the ear canal, breaking the seal. I can't get the Sony tips to do this. Also, even when fitted well the bass doesn't seem quite as solid as the bi-flange or Sony tips. Another case of good, and close to perfect, but not quite there. To any other buyers, you may notice what I'm talking about where the highs and lows disappear if you push them too far into your ears?
RE: Californication, agreed, terrible mix on that (I can't believe it was even released with all the clipping!!). I was listening to Blood Sugar. It was just a good example of where 'phones could really sound great and handle the more middy frequencies, and where it's just a little bit harsh. I've probably taken them through 50 - 100 tracks, some with better results than others. Sometimes the extra presence and clarity of the mids is a blessing, sometimes a curse.
Sorry if I'm being too critical. They are very good 'phones for the price. I don't want to put people off buying them. To put my comments in context, I've just posted my opinion of the overall sound, rather than in comparison to an equally priced alternative. Also, I'm listening at a louder volume than I usually would on the tram so I can hear the full potential of the drivers. At lower levels they're actually quite pleasant and bright instead of harsh and I doubt fatigue would occur for some time. I'd love to compare them to a similarly priced model, but I don't have anything to go by at the moment. Very tempted to buy the MetroFi's for this purpose, but I'll have to wait until I've payed some bills first
For anyone out there that is considering CX300's or the cheaper Fontopia's, GET THESE INSTEAD! They're so much better!
As for build quality, the only thing that lets them down is the flimsy earbuds. The Fontopia's cost loss (and admittedly sounded worse) but came with just slightly better tips. I think what is happening with the mid-sized tips is the material is causing them to fold if pushed too far into the ear canal, breaking the seal. I can't get the Sony tips to do this. Also, even when fitted well the bass doesn't seem quite as solid as the bi-flange or Sony tips. Another case of good, and close to perfect, but not quite there. To any other buyers, you may notice what I'm talking about where the highs and lows disappear if you push them too far into your ears?
RE: Californication, agreed, terrible mix on that (I can't believe it was even released with all the clipping!!). I was listening to Blood Sugar. It was just a good example of where 'phones could really sound great and handle the more middy frequencies, and where it's just a little bit harsh. I've probably taken them through 50 - 100 tracks, some with better results than others. Sometimes the extra presence and clarity of the mids is a blessing, sometimes a curse.
Sorry if I'm being too critical. They are very good 'phones for the price. I don't want to put people off buying them. To put my comments in context, I've just posted my opinion of the overall sound, rather than in comparison to an equally priced alternative. Also, I'm listening at a louder volume than I usually would on the tram so I can hear the full potential of the drivers. At lower levels they're actually quite pleasant and bright instead of harsh and I doubt fatigue would occur for some time. I'd love to compare them to a similarly priced model, but I don't have anything to go by at the moment. Very tempted to buy the MetroFi's for this purpose, but I'll have to wait until I've payed some bills first
For anyone out there that is considering CX300's or the cheaper Fontopia's, GET THESE INSTEAD! They're so much better!
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by bteq » Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:24 pm
...and as I STILL don't feel like I'm completely doing these earphones justice, here's a genre-by-genre, song-by-song run-down of what sounds good and what doesn't:
HIP-HOP
Cypress Hill - Everybody Must Get Stoned (Temples Of Boom) - Punchy kick, crisp hats (a little harsh), clear vocals, reasonable bassline (pretty good for a canalphone), and I can actually hear the tape hiss from the recording quite (unless this was ripped from vinyl, but something I never noticed before).
De La Soul - The Bizness (Stakes Is High) - Punchy kick, bass drops are solid, vocals and snare are a little harsh, but generally clear and crisp. The single driver performs quite well due to the sparse nature of the song.
Missy Elliot - Pass That Dutch (Respect Me) - A little harsh and a bit muddy... Not really the earphones fault. This is standard big club fare. The only thing I've heard that can properly handle this track is my twin 15" cabs. Performs very well considering. Still manages to get a lot of punch to the bass.
METAL
Meshuggah - War (Rare Trax) - Things get a bit messy here. This is a VERY busy track. I was surprised at the fact that the extremely fast double kick still maintained a little bit of punch during some parts, but otherwise it's just all a bit much. This is a track for big speakers and multiple drivers.
Slayer - Death's Hand (Diabolus in Musica) - This wasn't a pleasant experience. As soon as the vocals started I was in for a rough ride. It's not a masterpiece of modern mixing, but it certainly highlights where these 'phones fall short. I've heard a lot worse though.
Metallica - One (...And Justice For All) - This song ranged from good to great. The slower, quieter sections of the song sounded great. Everything was very crisp, and the sustain from the reverb sounded beautiful. The kick was solid and powerful. Things went from great to good in the heavier sections where the pronounched mids made the guitars, drums, and vocals a little abrasive, and the wide frequency range took some of the punch away from the kicks.
ELECTRONICA
Prometheus - The Logic Of The Polyphonic (Corridor of Mirrors) - This is a fantastic, well-layered psy-trance track. I started off listening through the VSonic's thinking "WOW" but that slowly progressed to "OW". Very solid, punchy bass, which can be clouded by everything else going on in the track. As the layers build, it becomes a little overwhelming. This music is really designed for a very large system, but I still can't help feeling everything sounded a bit worse than it should have. Even with the 2K and 8K bands dropped by 6dB things were still a bit much for these little 'phones.
Chemical Brothers - Galvanise (Push The Button) - Again, a little harsh (especially the middle-eastern strings in the beginning), but I was pleasantly surprised by how the bass boomed through the many other layers of this track. The little hidden blips, beeps, and buzzes shone through the mix. It really brought out some good qualities of this track.
Photek - The Sever Samurai (Form and Function) - Thise track sounded GREAT. I was really impressed by how well the drivers handled the deep bass, even during busier parts of the song. The detail in the more forgiving parts of the song sounded great. Nothing sounded harsh. In fact, I've noticed Drum'n'Bass is handled pretty well all round.
CLASSICAL/JAZZ/BLUES
Frédéric Chopin - Nocturne Es-Dur Op. 9 Nr. 2 (VA - Träumerei - Die schönsten romantischen Klavier) - I expected this to do well, but was disappointed. The piano lacked the necessary sparkle, and was a little bit abrasive. High notes are far too piercing.
Miles Davis - Directions I (The Complete In A Silent Way Sessions) - This song had its highs and lows. At times I was left with a smile, and at others a pained cringe. The 'phones handle the speed and variety in the track well from the quieter fills to the busy solos. The trumpet can be a very sharp instrument though, and this is made worse by an emphasis on the mid-region.
Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy (Hard Again) - This is a classic blues track, and it sounded really great on the R02-Pro's. It really brought out the grittiness of the track, which gives the song a great deal of character. I loved this from start to finish.
CONCLUSION
Overall, everything came through crisp and clear, and bass was deep and punchy, but I keep coming back to the harsh sounding mids. I think from this write-up I've come to understand why it troubles me as much as it does. You can't escape it! If 'phones sound a little too boomy, or lack clarity you sort of forget about it. For example, I was using a very cheap pair of canalphones given to me at work to use for audio-accompanied learning tools. They had no bass, and no highs, but I found despite the initial disgust at the sound, I forgot about the shortcomings. However, these 'phones manage the full range of frequencies very well, so when a sound suddenly jumps out and causes you discomfort you take are jolted out of the pleasant listening experience. If only the iPod had a custom EQ, I could just drop out those mids...
Overall, I found deeper, slower, non-club.gansta hip-hop, as well as drum'n'bass and blues performed very well. I was a little disappointed by the Jazz and Classical. Metal and Dance/Trance had both pro's and con's. The soundscape was vast and detailed, but I still can't get past those cutting mids.
All this said, I very much doubt you'll get a better pair of 'phones for this price. As a comparison to the MetroFi's, going be the frequency charts alone, I would guess the problems I had would be a lot worse due to deficiencies surrounding the mids (and I believe the VSonic chart to be fairly accurate). I tried a few of these songs through the CX300's and the VSonic blows them out of the water.
Anyway, this is just my opinion of the sound compared to what I consider "perfect".
Hope this helps. I think I'll stop reviewing and just go back to listening now
HIP-HOP
Cypress Hill - Everybody Must Get Stoned (Temples Of Boom) - Punchy kick, crisp hats (a little harsh), clear vocals, reasonable bassline (pretty good for a canalphone), and I can actually hear the tape hiss from the recording quite (unless this was ripped from vinyl, but something I never noticed before).
De La Soul - The Bizness (Stakes Is High) - Punchy kick, bass drops are solid, vocals and snare are a little harsh, but generally clear and crisp. The single driver performs quite well due to the sparse nature of the song.
Missy Elliot - Pass That Dutch (Respect Me) - A little harsh and a bit muddy... Not really the earphones fault. This is standard big club fare. The only thing I've heard that can properly handle this track is my twin 15" cabs. Performs very well considering. Still manages to get a lot of punch to the bass.
METAL
Meshuggah - War (Rare Trax) - Things get a bit messy here. This is a VERY busy track. I was surprised at the fact that the extremely fast double kick still maintained a little bit of punch during some parts, but otherwise it's just all a bit much. This is a track for big speakers and multiple drivers.
Slayer - Death's Hand (Diabolus in Musica) - This wasn't a pleasant experience. As soon as the vocals started I was in for a rough ride. It's not a masterpiece of modern mixing, but it certainly highlights where these 'phones fall short. I've heard a lot worse though.
Metallica - One (...And Justice For All) - This song ranged from good to great. The slower, quieter sections of the song sounded great. Everything was very crisp, and the sustain from the reverb sounded beautiful. The kick was solid and powerful. Things went from great to good in the heavier sections where the pronounched mids made the guitars, drums, and vocals a little abrasive, and the wide frequency range took some of the punch away from the kicks.
ELECTRONICA
Prometheus - The Logic Of The Polyphonic (Corridor of Mirrors) - This is a fantastic, well-layered psy-trance track. I started off listening through the VSonic's thinking "WOW" but that slowly progressed to "OW". Very solid, punchy bass, which can be clouded by everything else going on in the track. As the layers build, it becomes a little overwhelming. This music is really designed for a very large system, but I still can't help feeling everything sounded a bit worse than it should have. Even with the 2K and 8K bands dropped by 6dB things were still a bit much for these little 'phones.
Chemical Brothers - Galvanise (Push The Button) - Again, a little harsh (especially the middle-eastern strings in the beginning), but I was pleasantly surprised by how the bass boomed through the many other layers of this track. The little hidden blips, beeps, and buzzes shone through the mix. It really brought out some good qualities of this track.
Photek - The Sever Samurai (Form and Function) - Thise track sounded GREAT. I was really impressed by how well the drivers handled the deep bass, even during busier parts of the song. The detail in the more forgiving parts of the song sounded great. Nothing sounded harsh. In fact, I've noticed Drum'n'Bass is handled pretty well all round.
CLASSICAL/JAZZ/BLUES
Frédéric Chopin - Nocturne Es-Dur Op. 9 Nr. 2 (VA - Träumerei - Die schönsten romantischen Klavier) - I expected this to do well, but was disappointed. The piano lacked the necessary sparkle, and was a little bit abrasive. High notes are far too piercing.
Miles Davis - Directions I (The Complete In A Silent Way Sessions) - This song had its highs and lows. At times I was left with a smile, and at others a pained cringe. The 'phones handle the speed and variety in the track well from the quieter fills to the busy solos. The trumpet can be a very sharp instrument though, and this is made worse by an emphasis on the mid-region.
Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy (Hard Again) - This is a classic blues track, and it sounded really great on the R02-Pro's. It really brought out the grittiness of the track, which gives the song a great deal of character. I loved this from start to finish.
CONCLUSION
Overall, everything came through crisp and clear, and bass was deep and punchy, but I keep coming back to the harsh sounding mids. I think from this write-up I've come to understand why it troubles me as much as it does. You can't escape it! If 'phones sound a little too boomy, or lack clarity you sort of forget about it. For example, I was using a very cheap pair of canalphones given to me at work to use for audio-accompanied learning tools. They had no bass, and no highs, but I found despite the initial disgust at the sound, I forgot about the shortcomings. However, these 'phones manage the full range of frequencies very well, so when a sound suddenly jumps out and causes you discomfort you take are jolted out of the pleasant listening experience. If only the iPod had a custom EQ, I could just drop out those mids...
Overall, I found deeper, slower, non-club.gansta hip-hop, as well as drum'n'bass and blues performed very well. I was a little disappointed by the Jazz and Classical. Metal and Dance/Trance had both pro's and con's. The soundscape was vast and detailed, but I still can't get past those cutting mids.
All this said, I very much doubt you'll get a better pair of 'phones for this price. As a comparison to the MetroFi's, going be the frequency charts alone, I would guess the problems I had would be a lot worse due to deficiencies surrounding the mids (and I believe the VSonic chart to be fairly accurate). I tried a few of these songs through the CX300's and the VSonic blows them out of the water.
Anyway, this is just my opinion of the sound compared to what I consider "perfect".
Hope this helps. I think I'll stop reviewing and just go back to listening now
Last edited by bteq on Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:32 am, edited 2 times in total.
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by reemixx » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:20 am
bteq: Thanks for the informative and helpful review. 
I'm still umming and arring over the Vsonics. Many people have said they're great value (quality vs cost) and a head and shoulders above most others in the price range. But I'm also very concerned with comfort and build quality, where they seem to slightly fall down. Also, me and harsh sounding 'phones don't really get along, so now I have THAT to consider as well. Though, for the price, I'm thinking about just buying them anyway to make up my own mind and see what everyone's fussing about :P
By the way, if you do decide to buy the Metro.Fi's to make a comparison, I'll be reading it.
I'm still umming and arring over the Vsonics. Many people have said they're great value (quality vs cost) and a head and shoulders above most others in the price range. But I'm also very concerned with comfort and build quality, where they seem to slightly fall down. Also, me and harsh sounding 'phones don't really get along, so now I have THAT to consider as well. Though, for the price, I'm thinking about just buying them anyway to make up my own mind and see what everyone's fussing about :P
By the way, if you do decide to buy the Metro.Fi's to make a comparison, I'll be reading it.
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by bteq » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:50 am
reemixx wrote:But I'm also very concerned with comfort and build quality, where they seem to slightly fall down.
I'm just giving them a run-through again. They are very comfortable to wear. My ears never physically feel fatigued, even after an hour or two. I think my ears were feeling a little bit raw from the constant removing and replacing of different tips (and I'd given my ears a good clean before using them so maybe they were a little dry
). The ONLY problem with comfort is the slight spreading of the bi-flange tips on removal, but for everyday use I doubt it will bother anyone (and isn't bothering me today). As for build quality, there is the problem with the tips always getting a good fit, but after playing with them some more I think this is something that will only be a problem for the first couple of days (and I'd skip straight to the bi-flange tips anyway cuz they fit and sound great!). On the plus side, they fit onto the driver casing VERY well so I doubt they'd ever fall off and get lost.reemixx wrote:Also, me and harsh sounding 'phones don't really get along, so now I have THAT to consider as well.
When I say "harsh", I don't mean "harsh" in the way of a cheap pair of headphones. It's just a tendency to emphasize the mids. I think my ears were a little fatigued yesterday. Listening on fresh ears at a slightly lower volume I'm not finding it as much of a problem today. I think it's more a problem of the 'phones emphasizing a bad mix than being actually bad themselves. Garbage in, garbage out. While a well-mixed song is still a little middy, it still sounds very good for budget canalphones compared to a poorly mixed song. It probably doesn't help that what I'm listening to is mp3's, but then that's what most people will be playing through these.
Maybe if you have some particular songs in mind I can have a listen and give my thoughts on how they sound?
reemixx wrote:Though, for the price, I'm thinking about just buying them anyway to make up my own mind and see what everyone's fussing about :P
If you're looking at this price range I'd recommend it. Maybe you can give a counter-review.
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by Marcus » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:09 am
The Sennheiser CX300 has pretty terrible build quality, but it doesn't stop them from selling bucketloads, and I'd consider the Vsonic build quality to be slightly better than the CX300.
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by bteq » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:52 pm
Marcus wrote:The Sennheiser CX300 has pretty terrible build quality, but it doesn't stop them from selling bucketloads, and I'd consider the Vsonic build quality to be slightly better than the CX300.
I agree the build quality is better for everything but the tips (with the exception of the bi-flange tips). I just compared both the mid-sized single flange of the VSonics to the CX300's and the CX300's fit well, but I'm still having the same problem with the VSonics where they lose their seal. It's not even a matter of build quality asmuch as a design flaw. I don't really understand it because they're exactly the same size as the CX300 buds. There's just something with the way that they distort when inserted. I notice I can roll the CX300 and Fontopia tips between my fingers and they maintain an oval shape and roll smoothly, whereas all 4 of the mid-sized VSonic tips fold when rolled between my fingers. It's interesting to note that the bi-flange tips roll smoothly between me fingers, but the smaller tips which are made of the same material as the mid-sized also don't roll and the rubber folds (a bit of a pattern?). Maybe they need to make single flange tips from exactly the same materials as the bi-flange? I'd really like to see these fixed up.
As for the cable and enclosures, the VSonics are definitely feel like they're better made. The cable feels thick and rubbery, where the CX300 feels very thing and brittle. I like the materials used for the driver enclosures too.
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by nav » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:39 am
bteq wrote: I agree the build quality is better for everything but the tips (with the exception of the bi-flange tips). I just compared both the mid-sized single flange of the VSonics to the CX300's and the CX300's fit well, but I'm still having the same problem with the VSonics where they lose their seal. It's not even a matter of build quality asmuch as a design flaw. I don't really understand it because they're exactly the same size as the CX300 buds. There's just something with the way that they distort when inserted. I notice I can roll the CX300 and Fontopia tips between my fingers and they maintain an oval shape and roll smoothly, whereas all 4 of the mid-sized VSonic tips fold when rolled between my fingers. It's interesting to note that the bi-flange tips roll smoothly between me fingers, but the smaller tips which are made of the same material as the mid-sized also don't roll and the rubber folds (a bit of a pattern?). Maybe they need to make single flange tips from exactly the same materials as the bi-flange? I'd really like to see these fixed up.
speaking of vsonic tips...is it the same sound tip as Shure's etc, i.e. will the shure foamies fit the vsonic?
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by slowalan » Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:35 pm
I agree with bteqs excellent review of the VSonic Ro2Pro, and with Marcus's point that they are excellent value. Surely nothing beats them at the price.
Some enthusisasts have however been saying they give etymotics a run for their money...this is definitely not so. Although the Ro2pros's have better bass, they are too energetic for long relaxed listening. They are much louder than ety6's, and, as bteq points out the mids are a touch too much emphasised, making the sound , with some particualr recordings, a touch "harsh".
Indeed, they sound a bit like the signal has been run through a compressor, which has boosted the gain at the expense of dynamic subtlety.
The etys on the contrary are very light and airy, and I do not find them tiring even after hours of listening. I need a break from the Ro2's every hour or so.
However, the RO2's are just as detailed as the Etys, but whereas the Etys sounds seem to be placed around avirtual soundstage, some at the front, some the back of the stage , the RO2's sounds all seem to be standing right at the edge of the stage, and, to carry this analogy further, they seem to be clustered at the left or the right , the stereo separation is too much exagerrated.
Having said this, the detail is mindblowing, and , as bteq said, there are some tracks and musical styles, which they suit very well indeed. I found Zappas Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue (the last full jazz version) absolutely fantastic, as was an entire Muddy Walters album. I suspect they might be better for older analogue masters...they are a touch harsh for digital electronic, even seeming to clip occaisionally.
But this is super critical ..I have six pairs of good phones..the best to my ears being Etymotic ER4's. To the average kid with an Ipod..the R02pros would be mindblowingly good, and would completlely open their ears to what they are hearing.
I will be giving a pair to my sons on their birthdays.
Some enthusisasts have however been saying they give etymotics a run for their money...this is definitely not so. Although the Ro2pros's have better bass, they are too energetic for long relaxed listening. They are much louder than ety6's, and, as bteq points out the mids are a touch too much emphasised, making the sound , with some particualr recordings, a touch "harsh".
Indeed, they sound a bit like the signal has been run through a compressor, which has boosted the gain at the expense of dynamic subtlety.
The etys on the contrary are very light and airy, and I do not find them tiring even after hours of listening. I need a break from the Ro2's every hour or so.
However, the RO2's are just as detailed as the Etys, but whereas the Etys sounds seem to be placed around avirtual soundstage, some at the front, some the back of the stage , the RO2's sounds all seem to be standing right at the edge of the stage, and, to carry this analogy further, they seem to be clustered at the left or the right , the stereo separation is too much exagerrated.
Having said this, the detail is mindblowing, and , as bteq said, there are some tracks and musical styles, which they suit very well indeed. I found Zappas Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue (the last full jazz version) absolutely fantastic, as was an entire Muddy Walters album. I suspect they might be better for older analogue masters...they are a touch harsh for digital electronic, even seeming to clip occaisionally.
But this is super critical ..I have six pairs of good phones..the best to my ears being Etymotic ER4's. To the average kid with an Ipod..the R02pros would be mindblowingly good, and would completlely open their ears to what they are hearing.
I will be giving a pair to my sons on their birthdays.
- slowalan
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by Buckchoi » Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:53 am
I received mine yesterday.
First impressions, the treble is very clear, the sound quality is higher, but the bass is lacking compared to the Creative EP-630's which I upgraded from.
I'm using the bi-flange tips, which I'm finding it hard to get a good fit with, hopefully my ears will adjust.
I thought this might've been the cause of the bass problem, so I tried using the tips from my EP-630's and it made no difference.
Would a burn in help?
First impressions, the treble is very clear, the sound quality is higher, but the bass is lacking compared to the Creative EP-630's which I upgraded from.
I'm using the bi-flange tips, which I'm finding it hard to get a good fit with, hopefully my ears will adjust.
I thought this might've been the cause of the bass problem, so I tried using the tips from my EP-630's and it made no difference.
Would a burn in help?
- Buckchoi
- Lurker
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:19 am
- Location: Auckland NZ
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