Courtesy of
Lolopopoy, here are my impressions on VSonic's Dual Armature IEM the GR01
VSonic has really impressed me with their GR07 Dynamic IEM which is still making its rounds throughout audio hobbyists as the best bang for buck IEM under the $200 price range. And having owned the GR07 for a good half year now, it's safe to say that it's a keeper in my IEM assortment. It works for all genres and is able to perform on par with the best of IEMs way above its price range. It really set the bar on what a Chinese OEM can produce for so little cost to the consumer.
With the GR01, VSonic has set similar goals with their sound signature like with the GR07. They aim for non-fatiguing sound signature with all the frequencies presented, well balanced and it aims to achieve the Studio Monitor sound, and they have certainly accomplished that with the GR01 and its TWFK drivers
It looks sleek and small but those dual armatures are really pleasing to listen to because of the non-fatuiging sound. Vocals are well pronounced and caress the listener's ears with good imaging and separation.
Bass performs admirably well, with enough warmth and punch. It's very tight and has enough impact for most genres of music. It doesnt go down deep, but for non-electronic genres it will do well.
One of the weaknesses of the GR07 is its treble, while pleasing to listen to can tend to be sibilant on some tracks. This is not the case with the GR01 as the treble is just right. It's not particularly impressive but it does no wrong either. It's not too bright but it does not roll off that much. It's sometimes thin on a few tracks however.
I think this IEM is really well made as it is small and compact like the Klipsch X10, UE700 and the Ortofon IEMs. They are very comfortable to wear and they dont fall off easily. I must say I really like the Sony Hybrid-ish tips that VSonic has produced for their newer IEMs. Unlike the cheap clone Hybrids which are rough and very rigid, the VSonic tips while not as soft as the real deal Sony Hybrids, sit comfortably on my ears and makes for a comfortable listen.
The GR01 doesnt really do anything particularly well, but its appeal is that it does no wrong and is pleasing to listen to. Details are great for a Dual Armature IEM but as it is only a Dual Armature IEM, it's still not up to par with something like a UM3x when it comes to detail and imaging.
Comparing it to my pair of GR07 which aims to have the Studio Monitor type of sound as well, it loses out on bass and musicality by default because of the GR07 which is a Dynamic IEM. It's also not as wide when it comes to soundstage.
However, it is a technically better IEM than the GR07 and it shows with the vocals and detail which I give the win to the GR01.
Is it better than competing Dual Armature IEMs for its price range? I must say I prefer it over the DBA02 and UE700 as unlike those IEMs, this one is very balanced and has all frequencies represented equally in your music. I also like the non-fatiguing sound which means I can listen to music for the whole day without getting tired of piercing highs and sibilance. I think of it as a DBA02 without the piercing highs, which in turn brings out the bass.
It's priced at around $180 on Ebay right now which is on par with other Dual Driver IEMs. It's definitely worth the asking price if you are looking for a Dual BA IEM which is comfortable to wear.
Setup used:
Cowon J3 on BBE Viva
Tracks used:
James Ingram - Just Once
Traincha - Human Nature
Eagles - Tequila Sunrise
Foo Fighters - Everlong
