First review
About me:
I have been critically listening to music for ~20 years and studying it more thoroughly for ~15. I have played in a few local bands, been an assistant in a studio, been to more shows that I can count (both local bands and big name concerts) and listen to music at every opportunity I can get. I do not make a ton of money so my budget is always limited. I am a firm believer in getting the most for your dollar.
Thoughts on sound and frequency responses:
My idea of an ideal sound signature, be it mastering techniques or the end result coming from your speakers or headphones may be a little unconventional. While I do find it necessary to look at frequency response graphs and technical specifications, I believe the “correct” sound comes from a accumulation of personal experiences with a given instrument or song. For example, I have heard DAC’s that represent the sound of a piano very well *to my hears* because over the course of a lifetime I have created an idea of what a piano sounds like. Of course, not all pianos sound the same, and therefore it is only what my idea of what a piano sounds like. Similarly, I have heard headphones that can recreate my idea of what a certain song sounds like. This is why I use particular songs to review equipment; songs that I have heard a thousand times on many different types of media and equipment. Like most people, I would have to send away to NASA to calculate the number of times I have heard “Come Together” by The Beatles. Between cassette tapes, CD’s, Early pressing vinyls, car stereos, multi thousand vintage home stereos, mp3 players, loudspeakers, the ceiling speakers at the Wendy’s down the street I think I have created a certain idea of how this song sounds. When I listen through a new piece of equipment, I have a pretty solid of idea of what I’m supposed to hear. Everybody has their own songs like this.
On to the 1More Dual Drivers:
I will, for the most part skip packaging and accessories as anybody who knows how to use google can figure that out, except I will comment about quality in hand.
The packaging is smaller than I expected, but it packs everything you need to have an enjoyable unboxing if that’s your thing. The headphones are wrapped around dense foam and they include a little plastic clamshell box that holds the extra tips and ultimately you will use to hold your headphones.
Everything feels nice enough, especially for the price (remember, we’re closer to $50 than $100).
It is important to note that these do not have a detachable cable.
Build Quality / Fit:
From the connector up, the right angle jack is sturdy with a TRRS tip. The first part of the cable, before the Y-split is a Kevlar reinforced material that feels premium, albeit a little thin. The individual cables to each ear feel less premium and have yet to relax on my set, leaving some slightly awkward hangs, but I suspect this will resolve itself within the next week or so.
As for fit, this is HIGHLY SUBJECTIVE. Each person’s outer ear, as well as inner ear canal biology is different, so what fits or doesn’t fit for me may not apply to you. I feel fit and comfort are so subjective they should almost be left out of a review, but for the sake of it I will note that I had a little trouble finding a perfect seal combined with stability with the included tips. However, like most people, I have about 1.6 billion different tips laying around in my desk and was quickly able to find something that worked.
For the duration of the review I will be making notes based on the included large tips that provided the best seal for me. Ultimately I went with a pair of mediums that had a slightly rougher feel to them and stayed in my ears a little better without too much pressure.
Sound:
As I mentioned before, sound is so very subjective and my opinions and notes will likely differ from another’s, especially due to the way sound waves of different frequencies travel differently through a given person’s ears.
For my personal comparisons I will be using songs that I am familiar with and compare details about how those songs sound on equipment I’ve had for a while, including a schiit modi/magni stack into some AKH K7xx, Sennheiser HD6xx, JBL 5 and 8 inch monitors and my Andrew Jones tower speakers. These are my reference points. All songs are .wav or .flac of varying sample rates, all >= 48khz.
Because the Thinksound 1MORE IEMs would be in the budget bracket it is important to pair them with other equipment in their class. I will be using three DACs, a GGMM A1 portable USB dongle, a FIIO Q1mkii and a Topping NX2s. Each has their own sound signature that I’ve noticed, but this isn’t a review of them, so I will as briefly as possible tell you how I’ve noticed each “colors” the sound.
GGMM A1: tiny usb powered device introduces noticeable hiss with no music playing, but ultimately sounds way above it’s price (~$40). It is capable of 192/24 playback and for it’s price has a good soundstage, instrument separation and neutral signature. If anything it adds a little punch, or slam, to the bass, but is not overly warm by any means.
FIIO Q1mkii: The most neutral of the three, if anything a little warm, but very musical sounding. Good speed and definition. Kind of makes my digital recordings sound analogue. A single piano stroke sounds most real on this.
Topping NX2s: Slowest bass decay, yet very musical. Bass is flirting with loose, but at the same time this can add a bit of a natural feel to it. Mids and Highs are slightly pronounced and a little thin. Piano by itself is lacking a little on this, but in a mix the NX2s can keep up with pacing and sounds good for its size.
1More Dual Drivers:
Soundstage:
1More’s have a wide soundstage that competes with IEMs in much higher price range. I prefer their staging and imaging to Rain3’s and FIIO FH1, which both cost a good deal more (90 and 80 respectively) but doesn’t quite reach the range of the FIIO F9pro (which cost closer to $140). For any organic music that’s played by a band (thus excluding electronic and highly produced music) the 1More is … more … than able to create a lifelike listening experience with regards to staging. Leon Russell’s “Out In The Woods” sounds almost scary. Loggins & Messina’s “Angry Eyes” is a treat. Look it up as a reference for Classic blues/folk rock sound stage and imaging.
Lows:
Bass is present and ample, and the 1Mores have a good amount of punch to them, but if anything feel just a tad slow. This was not a problem when using the GGMM or the FIIO because those DACs both introduce a good amount of punch, but the more tame NX2s combined with the 1More’s just felt a bit slow in the bass with slight bleed into other frequencies. Note: Neil Young – Razor Love. Low acoustic notes seem to be a little sloppy with over emphasis and a slower decay, but remember, this is listened to on the NX2s, a DAC that is noted for doing that as well. The GGMM, the most thin sounding of all helped on this track, but it was still a little noticeable.
Mids:
The dual drivers of the 1More are tuned well to handle mids in a warm and natural way. If they felt emphasized at all, I blame my ears or DACs more than anything else. I tend to hear mids and highs more than bass, so keep that in mind. Vocals and guitars seemed present, but natural, especially on the Q1mkii and NX2s. The fact that the DD doesn’t have to handle the whole spectrum really adds to the separation in the higher regions. Note: Vocals on Van Morrison – And It Stoned Me, as well as Crazy Love. The paino notes on Van Morrison – Caravan, are natural, full and warm sounding, as they should be.
Highs:
Again the BA driver really allows this region of the spectrum to shine. Unlike certain other IEMs *cough* F9pro *cough* the 1More doesn’t even scratch the surface of sibilant but at the same time is able to remain extremely clear and detailed. Only in poorly mixed, or very loud, intense music did the clarity begin to diminish in the high region. Regardless, they rarely showed distortion and these instances were few and far between to the point of never really creating a problem unless listening overly critically (which you probably shouldn’t be doing with $50 IEMs anyways…). Again, Loggins & Messina – Angry Eyes shows us how sweet and soft the highs are on the 1More without being recessed. Cymbal and snare hits are present and almost driving without being sibilant and the highest notes on the horns sound sweet and natural.
Conclusion:
Without sounding at all veiled, the 1More dual drivers present a warm and comfortable sound that is in no way fatiguing or unpleasant in any frequency. They are reserved and relaxed, but not so much that they sound “wrong.” They won’t do a bad recording and favors, but they will be able to handle even the highest quality files with ease.
If you’re anything like me and love collecting music equipment and searching for that “correct” sound, these are a must have, especially considering the price. I bought these thinking I would have a pair to carry around with me, maybe be a little sloppy and not really care if they get lost or broken…hurled into a black hole…you know, day to day troubles for IEMs. I had found myself going down the rabbit hole of looking for that perfect sound. Critically listening to each song, sometimes one line in a song over and over on different pieces of equipment and I forgot that music was supposed to be enjoyed. So many of us get trapped over analyzing aspects of a song or equipment that we forget to just sit back and enjoy the music. The 1More IEMs helped me get back to that. Turns out I find myself using these more often than my other IEMs for just that reason. They punch way above their class in terms of clarity while their non over analytical feel make them easy listening all day.
About me:
I have been critically listening to music for ~20 years and studying it more thoroughly for ~15. I have played in a few local bands, been an assistant in a studio, been to more shows that I can count (both local bands and big name concerts) and listen to music at every opportunity I can get. I do not make a ton of money so my budget is always limited. I am a firm believer in getting the most for your dollar.
Thoughts on sound and frequency responses:
My idea of an ideal sound signature, be it mastering techniques or the end result coming from your speakers or headphones may be a little unconventional. While I do find it necessary to look at frequency response graphs and technical specifications, I believe the “correct” sound comes from a accumulation of personal experiences with a given instrument or song. For example, I have heard DAC’s that represent the sound of a piano very well *to my hears* because over the course of a lifetime I have created an idea of what a piano sounds like. Of course, not all pianos sound the same, and therefore it is only what my idea of what a piano sounds like. Similarly, I have heard headphones that can recreate my idea of what a certain song sounds like. This is why I use particular songs to review equipment; songs that I have heard a thousand times on many different types of media and equipment. Like most people, I would have to send away to NASA to calculate the number of times I have heard “Come Together” by The Beatles. Between cassette tapes, CD’s, Early pressing vinyls, car stereos, multi thousand vintage home stereos, mp3 players, loudspeakers, the ceiling speakers at the Wendy’s down the street I think I have created a certain idea of how this song sounds. When I listen through a new piece of equipment, I have a pretty solid of idea of what I’m supposed to hear. Everybody has their own songs like this.
On to the 1More Dual Drivers:
I will, for the most part skip packaging and accessories as anybody who knows how to use google can figure that out, except I will comment about quality in hand.
The packaging is smaller than I expected, but it packs everything you need to have an enjoyable unboxing if that’s your thing. The headphones are wrapped around dense foam and they include a little plastic clamshell box that holds the extra tips and ultimately you will use to hold your headphones.
Everything feels nice enough, especially for the price (remember, we’re closer to $50 than $100).
It is important to note that these do not have a detachable cable.
Build Quality / Fit:
From the connector up, the right angle jack is sturdy with a TRRS tip. The first part of the cable, before the Y-split is a Kevlar reinforced material that feels premium, albeit a little thin. The individual cables to each ear feel less premium and have yet to relax on my set, leaving some slightly awkward hangs, but I suspect this will resolve itself within the next week or so.
As for fit, this is HIGHLY SUBJECTIVE. Each person’s outer ear, as well as inner ear canal biology is different, so what fits or doesn’t fit for me may not apply to you. I feel fit and comfort are so subjective they should almost be left out of a review, but for the sake of it I will note that I had a little trouble finding a perfect seal combined with stability with the included tips. However, like most people, I have about 1.6 billion different tips laying around in my desk and was quickly able to find something that worked.
For the duration of the review I will be making notes based on the included large tips that provided the best seal for me. Ultimately I went with a pair of mediums that had a slightly rougher feel to them and stayed in my ears a little better without too much pressure.
Sound:
As I mentioned before, sound is so very subjective and my opinions and notes will likely differ from another’s, especially due to the way sound waves of different frequencies travel differently through a given person’s ears.
For my personal comparisons I will be using songs that I am familiar with and compare details about how those songs sound on equipment I’ve had for a while, including a schiit modi/magni stack into some AKH K7xx, Sennheiser HD6xx, JBL 5 and 8 inch monitors and my Andrew Jones tower speakers. These are my reference points. All songs are .wav or .flac of varying sample rates, all >= 48khz.
Because the Thinksound 1MORE IEMs would be in the budget bracket it is important to pair them with other equipment in their class. I will be using three DACs, a GGMM A1 portable USB dongle, a FIIO Q1mkii and a Topping NX2s. Each has their own sound signature that I’ve noticed, but this isn’t a review of them, so I will as briefly as possible tell you how I’ve noticed each “colors” the sound.
GGMM A1: tiny usb powered device introduces noticeable hiss with no music playing, but ultimately sounds way above it’s price (~$40). It is capable of 192/24 playback and for it’s price has a good soundstage, instrument separation and neutral signature. If anything it adds a little punch, or slam, to the bass, but is not overly warm by any means.
FIIO Q1mkii: The most neutral of the three, if anything a little warm, but very musical sounding. Good speed and definition. Kind of makes my digital recordings sound analogue. A single piano stroke sounds most real on this.
Topping NX2s: Slowest bass decay, yet very musical. Bass is flirting with loose, but at the same time this can add a bit of a natural feel to it. Mids and Highs are slightly pronounced and a little thin. Piano by itself is lacking a little on this, but in a mix the NX2s can keep up with pacing and sounds good for its size.
1More Dual Drivers:
Soundstage:
1More’s have a wide soundstage that competes with IEMs in much higher price range. I prefer their staging and imaging to Rain3’s and FIIO FH1, which both cost a good deal more (90 and 80 respectively) but doesn’t quite reach the range of the FIIO F9pro (which cost closer to $140). For any organic music that’s played by a band (thus excluding electronic and highly produced music) the 1More is … more … than able to create a lifelike listening experience with regards to staging. Leon Russell’s “Out In The Woods” sounds almost scary. Loggins & Messina’s “Angry Eyes” is a treat. Look it up as a reference for Classic blues/folk rock sound stage and imaging.
Lows:
Bass is present and ample, and the 1Mores have a good amount of punch to them, but if anything feel just a tad slow. This was not a problem when using the GGMM or the FIIO because those DACs both introduce a good amount of punch, but the more tame NX2s combined with the 1More’s just felt a bit slow in the bass with slight bleed into other frequencies. Note: Neil Young – Razor Love. Low acoustic notes seem to be a little sloppy with over emphasis and a slower decay, but remember, this is listened to on the NX2s, a DAC that is noted for doing that as well. The GGMM, the most thin sounding of all helped on this track, but it was still a little noticeable.
Mids:
The dual drivers of the 1More are tuned well to handle mids in a warm and natural way. If they felt emphasized at all, I blame my ears or DACs more than anything else. I tend to hear mids and highs more than bass, so keep that in mind. Vocals and guitars seemed present, but natural, especially on the Q1mkii and NX2s. The fact that the DD doesn’t have to handle the whole spectrum really adds to the separation in the higher regions. Note: Vocals on Van Morrison – And It Stoned Me, as well as Crazy Love. The paino notes on Van Morrison – Caravan, are natural, full and warm sounding, as they should be.
Highs:
Again the BA driver really allows this region of the spectrum to shine. Unlike certain other IEMs *cough* F9pro *cough* the 1More doesn’t even scratch the surface of sibilant but at the same time is able to remain extremely clear and detailed. Only in poorly mixed, or very loud, intense music did the clarity begin to diminish in the high region. Regardless, they rarely showed distortion and these instances were few and far between to the point of never really creating a problem unless listening overly critically (which you probably shouldn’t be doing with $50 IEMs anyways…). Again, Loggins & Messina – Angry Eyes shows us how sweet and soft the highs are on the 1More without being recessed. Cymbal and snare hits are present and almost driving without being sibilant and the highest notes on the horns sound sweet and natural.
Conclusion:
Without sounding at all veiled, the 1More dual drivers present a warm and comfortable sound that is in no way fatiguing or unpleasant in any frequency. They are reserved and relaxed, but not so much that they sound “wrong.” They won’t do a bad recording and favors, but they will be able to handle even the highest quality files with ease.
If you’re anything like me and love collecting music equipment and searching for that “correct” sound, these are a must have, especially considering the price. I bought these thinking I would have a pair to carry around with me, maybe be a little sloppy and not really care if they get lost or broken…hurled into a black hole…you know, day to day troubles for IEMs. I had found myself going down the rabbit hole of looking for that perfect sound. Critically listening to each song, sometimes one line in a song over and over on different pieces of equipment and I forgot that music was supposed to be enjoyed. So many of us get trapped over analyzing aspects of a song or equipment that we forget to just sit back and enjoy the music. The 1More IEMs helped me get back to that. Turns out I find myself using these more often than my other IEMs for just that reason. They punch way above their class in terms of clarity while their non over analytical feel make them easy listening all day.
