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Overall, the frequency response of OH10 resembles quite a lot the Harman target curve that works phenomenal with fast and punchy music. Punchy, quite elevated and very fast in the transients. Free from any bloating nor bleeding on the mids.
I find the OH10 to be very comfortable: their narrow shape means they can sit in my ears for hours before I feel any discomfort, and even then it’s so slight I can easily ignore it. You may have a different experience as each person has ears with different shapes, but I think that these earphones are probably among the most comfortable you can find out there. 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. Just wonderful. Helped by general clarity, and fast bass transients, instruments are very well placed on the stage and there’s quite some space/air amongst them Housing: Pure copper with titanium coating on the exterior and platinum coating on interior chamberThe titanium-coated 10mm dynamic bass driver shows good speed while still being able to convey a strong sense of power due to its sub-bass reach. Upper bass falls off steadily and lends some warmth to the lower mids without any destructive bleeding. Mids Two much more reasonably priced IEMs are OH1 and OH10; OH1 was IKKO’s first IEM, and it was followed by OH10 in an attempt to further improve OH1. I therefore think that it is quite appropriate to review both of them at the same time and see the similarities and differences between them. Overall, the quality of OH1 is outstanding in and out, and it is far beyond from what one expects from a set with a medium price tag.
Staging on the Gems OH1S is surprisingly above average. It has more depth and width seen in similarly priced IEMs. It does not feel cramped, it’s in fact, spacious in its own right. All things considered, the soundstage is impressive enough for an IEM at this price point. Their triangular shape is ergonomic, however, fit may be an issue for some due to their very small size, requiring a good ear tip seal to hold them in place. Extremely small logos, R/L side indicators, and two vents are found on the aluminum sections. Comfort The OH10 Obsidian take their name from a volcanic mineral, a natural-occurring glass which was used in the Neolithic to manufacture blades (a fact I find extremely cool!). What’s actually even cooler is that IKKO shaped the earphones like one of those obsidian blades, complete with faceting that really make the earpieces look as if they were pieces of obsidian.
The OH10 treble perks up again and adds a clear and energetic quality to the music reproduction. Thankfully it doesn’t stray into sibilance or excessive brightness but adds a good counterbalance to the weighty low end. Things sound articulate, with decent resolution and impression of space and air. The Aztects [sic] fashioned flat sheets of Obsidian into scrying mirrors, and ancient peoples created arrowheads and axes with magical properties. A strongly protective stone, Obsidian forms a shield against negativity, providing a grounding cord from the base chakra to the center of the earth. Moving the focus from the low-end to the treble regions is what differentiates the sound signatures between the Obsidian and the Gems. What’s remarkable is how well IKKO sustained the regions that were not the primary focus. With the Obsidian, the tamer treble maintains enough presence to ensure clarity, and with the Gems, the low-end magnitude is sufficient to balance out the far more resolving and open upper registers. As mentioned, I had fit difficulties with the included silicone tips, but all was resolved when I moved over to the medium-sized foam tips. The usually shallow shape of the foam tips may actually be more comfortable than normal for those who tend to prefer silicone. The small size, combined with the lightweight cable make these some of the most comfortable IEMs I’ve tried, and remind me of my ancient tiny Shure IEMs. Internals A technology enthusiast since he was a kid, Alberto is not overly attracted by novelties for the sake of themselves, he’s indeed not a compulsive gear roller, and is interested in understanding why and how a given piece of equipment produces better or worse results. His articles are about sharing his experience with the hope that it may be useful to others on the same quest.
As a basshead that prefers sensible subbass extension I bought these after researching intensely for 2 weeks and settling on these.
Despite having slightly lower sensitivity (106dB), OH10 works well with low-powered sources including mobile phones and Bluetooth receivers. IKKO OH10 frequency response. Bass
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