The sum of it's parts.............
EQUIPMENT
Topping a50s Headphone Amplifier
Xduoo MT-602 Hybrid Tube Headphone Amplifier (Sylvania 5654 Tubes)
SMSL Sanskrit 10th MK2 DAC
Shanling UA2 , Apogee Groove & Apple Dongles
iFi Hip-Dac
Eartips: Final Audio E & BGVP A07, KZ Inverted Starlines
Cable: Stock Cable & NiceHck Silver LitzPS 4.4mm Balanced
Sources: Flac Files From my Personal Collection / Apple Music
SPECS
1 balanced armature for high frequency,
2 piezoelectric ceramic for ultra-high frequency,
7mm graphene diaphragm dynamic, and
8mm dome titanium diaphragm dynamic
Impedance: 8ohm
Sensitivity: 106db
Cable Connector: 2pin 0.78mm
NOTES
The Geek World GK10 packs a lot of tech into a very small and light package at a price that's hard to believe. At it's asking price of under $50USD, the GK10 bring a lot to the table. Tuning is on the warm V side of things with crisp and airy treble which is it's standout feature of the sonic presentation, in particular at this price point. The GK10 did not prove to be as picky with cable and tip rolling as some more recent iem's I have dealt with recently, I settled on Final Audio E (2020) and KZ Inverted Starlines, but was quite interesting to deal with when it comes to getting the best out of its bass. More on this later. All in all when the moons aligned, the GK10 provided a pleasant listening experience with standout treble at this price range. Initially the GK10 did seem very easy to drive, but I found that it's bass output and quality varied significantly depending on the quality of the source. Another point to consider is that I found the GK10 to require a longer than usual "burn in" time. 72+ minimum hours seemed to be best for the GK10 to settle in. YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)
BUILD, QUALITY & FIT
Build quality is generally good for the earphones themselves, but they are very light and plasticky in feel which reduces this rating somewhat. The look is unusual and the heart shape actually turned out to be very comfortable. The included accessories are pretty standard with a decent number of tips included to choose from. What was surprising was the 8 strand silver plated copper cable that is included. It had a good haptic feel and it really seemed like it was not just an afterthought, but that it was carefully chosen. Other manufacturers offering good in this price range could learn a few tings about presentation and the apparent quality of included accessories from the Gk10 and Reecho SG01 which will be in an upcoming review on this blog.
:SOUND:
BASS:
Before describing the bass of the GK10 I have to mention this caveat. The Geek World GK10 bass presentation will depend on the source used and in no small way. Initially I was very disappointed as the bass sounded really like what would expected come out of a broken woofer. Bass sounded flabby and indistinct with terrible definition and little to no slam or impact. After 72+ hours of burn in there were some definite improvements and it came down to pairing the GK10 to a source which had much better control and synergized well with this earphone. The Shanling UA2 and Apogee Groove really brought the Geek World GK10 to life and cleaned up the bass noticeably.
Bass has a definite mid-bass focus with the deepest registers having a controlled roll-off. Bass, after taking into consideration what I wrote above, is warm, tuneful and relatively textured. Impact is not stellar but is good nonetheless and speed is admirable. There is some minor bass bleed but it does not get in the way. "Circumstance" by Wayman Tisdale has a bass line that was easy to follow and the texture was well relayed. "Angel" by Massive Attack showed a bass that was controlled if not reaching as deep as some of the GK10's competitors but in terms of control and texture, it did very well. A Guy Called Gerald's track "Stella" showed the best and not so best og the GK10 with a bass that was easy to follow and had good control but lacked just that last element of visceral impact, still being very enjoyable.
MIDS
The midrange is recessed but not overly so. There is an elevation in the upper midrange that adds to the level of clarity and detail. This elevation is well controlled and the GK10 is thankfully not shouty, strident or harsh. Mids are not overtly lush but while being detailed are presented in a more of "Here it is" kind of fashion being more intimate than open. Note weight is average while attack and layer separation is actually quite good. Timbre is not the strong point of the GK10. In this metric it is bested by a few competitors in it's price range. Still it did offer a pleasurable listening experience.
Treble
Treble is the star of the show. Crisp, fast with very good detail retrieval and separation. On well recorded material the GK10 manages to keep up and has a treble presentation that is airy with believable shimmer. The smoothness of the treble is also a surprise at this price point. There was no sign of harshness of sibilance and the GK10 was non fatiguing. Attack and decay also stood out as being very clear and precise. Treble is really something special with the Geek World GK10.
IMAGING & SOUNDSTAGE
Imaging and soundstage are above average for this price range with the Geek World GK10 throwing out an stable and well defined venue. Depth fell behind width and height though.
VERSUS
- HZsound Heart-Mirror
The Heart-Mirror while having lower bass output as compared to the GK10 best it in every other metric. Texture, speed and overall bass quality are w win for the HM. In the mods the HM ekes out another victory while it is slightly more recessed than the GK10, it is more open and timbre is definitely better as well. Detail retrieval is also superior on the HM. Treble is not so cut and dry. The GK10 pushes ahead slightly with a treble that is somewhat more detailed, airy and crisp than the beloved HM. Taken overall the Heart-Mirror is more accomplished than the GK10.
- TRN ST2
Bass on the ST2 goes deeper and is more impactful than as offered by the GK10. The MIds are a toss up witht he GK10 being more closed in and intimate vs the SDT2's brighter and more open presentation. Detail retrieval in the mids favors the ST2 ever so slightly. Treble is won easily by the GK10. The ST2 is brighter but not with more detail. The treble on the GK10 is so much more pleasant and controlled than that of the TRN ST2. Timbre is not a strong suit of either of these earphones. taken overall, I prefer the Geek World GK10 over the TRN ST2.
CONCLUSION
The Geek World GK10 is a product that impresses but only after coming to grips with what it needs to be done to allow it to be its best. I believe that a definite extended bun in time is necessary before the GK10 can settle down and even begin to sound as it should. YMMV. At the very least, it is a very interesting product with lots of tech shoved into a small shell at a reasonable price. Reviews of the GK10 have run the gamut from "great" to "terrible". I'm not one to worry myself with the opinion of others only to say that the GK10 is a good sounding earphone and one which I actually enjoy listening to. It has faults, and at tis price range it's usually who balances the faults the best. If someone takes the time to allows the Geek World GK10 to sound its best, they should be well surprised.
Comments