After a little break Earacoustic returns with a new VSA series, very similar by design but completely different and refined musical experience. In past i have reviewed SPA Limited Edition, and i was amazed by appearance and sound, with VSA MAX you have very similar appearance and sound is little bit sweeter and warmer, plus its more budget friendly, and still kept great accessories with slight improvement, showing how Earacoustic have listen community.
Its flagship unboxing like with SPA Limited Edition or any other Earacoustic product, this approach is now proven to be correct, identical box like with SPA Limited, just another color, more like sweet red or cherry color, inside pretty much everything the same like with the SPA Limited, just another IEM in foam protected, but with this type of box you don't need to worry will be protected during transport, this box could stand almost anything and still will survive, and modular cable same grade like on previous models, this cable is flagship quality and compared to competition its worthy like 40-50 maybe even more, so its like one third of whole price of Iem, 2 sets of eartips, i will write little bit more about. Circular leather bag with zipper, papers and leather holder for easier packing cable.
Accessories:Bag, is leather a like or real leather identical like on SPA Limited, just another color red or cherry, with vsa series on top, its very hard to read due to reflective material and small letters.
Cable, premium quality and this time is modular, so hardcore lovers will enjoy more with this versatility, housing of termination have snake on it its really polished and very stylish shape, it's easy to de-attach and connect again, cable is plated to the splitter, which is same material like termination casing, some quality aluminum very light and yet dense enough, after splitter is chin slider metal ring, which will stay where you position it, this detail i like to see on every cable, 2 pin connectors and marked with Letters for identitation, L for left and R for right. Material is very friendly and yet comfortable enough to wear, more about cable in specs.
Eartips, identical sets of eartips like on SPA Limited and other from series, narrow and wide bore eartips, honestly i havent used so much narrow bore eartips, since bass extension on all of earacoustic iems is great, but for bass lovers this will be ideal, my main focus was on wide bore eartips, and to be honest they are great, usually I skip stock eartips, just hit intial sound test or listening for an hour, and then i tryng to find right one from my collection, and procedure going is very simple, trying some transparent eartips like cp100, to see what is actual sound, then pushing with cp145, after cp145 everything else from my favorite eartips box, but with VSA MAX, CP145 simple worked the best, yes other eartips have changed and contributed in sound, but for my liking CP145 sound the best, and now i return to stock wide bore you get with VSA MAX, almost similar like cp145 even better, improved air, mids and highs, while bass stay clear and preserved, so this stock eartips are little win for me by Earacoustic, could be used on other iems as well and in same time providing great statisfaction listening with it.
Similar stylish and elegant design is on all of EarAcoustic iems, this is like their symbol of recognition, shell is very similar to SPA limited, yet very different, CNC engraving is perfection like always full of details and nice textures on inside part where goes in ear, while faceplates have plenty sparkling little stones or diamond peels or something i don't know how to describe it, just look photos, but even on photos they will not look so great like holding this MAX in hands is completely different experience than watching online. Same type of Nozzle with same griller, and little hole near nozzle for driver compression, nozzle is little bit short and more thicker than classic, but i couldn't find any problems, its 2 pin flat cradle, so 99 percent 2 pin connectors will be friendly if you decide to swap or replace cable, but no need, this cable on MAX is amazing.
Specs:I have borrowed specs internet.
Driver: 11.4mm Full-Amplitude Titanium Diaphragm
Magnetic Circuit: Tesla Dual Magnetic
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 110dB
Frequency Response: 5Hz–40kHz
Cable: 408-core OFC + Silver-Plated Litz, 1.2m
Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin
Termination: Interchangeable 4.4mm + 3.5mm
Comfort:Even nozzle is little bit thicker-short i couldnt find any problems wearing while enjoying music, i have used my standard M size and it worked perfect, my longest session of listening was 6h+ with smaller breaks, even iem is from metal, it's still friendly and comfortable to wear, and my ears didn't got tired or irritated, so they are fine even for longer sessions.
Driverability and Scaling:VSA MAX is easy to drive on almost anything, any beginner dongle will do a job, but having better source will increase quality of VSA MAX to the MAX, just showing how the driver inside of MAX is better quality.
Pairing:I have paired MAX with almost all sources from my collection just to see results, and pretty much everything will be fine, my personal preference for warm iem is neutral or neutral-warm, but even bright sources will contribute to some elements in terms of critical listening and musical warm touch will be preserved...
Gear:I have used almost everything from my collection to experiment and increase sound experience, so for local files I have UAPP and Fiio Music APP, and for online low compression, Spotify and Youtube. List:
Fiio, JM21, Echo Mini, Retro Nano, KA11, JA11
Tempotec, V3 Blaze, Sonata BHD
Bunch of ear tips but mostly focused on wide bore stock
Stock modular cable, great versatility for any output
Motorola G54 and LG V50 and PC
Sound Impression:Soundsignature is neutral-warm, and it's not secret this is my favorite, yes i could enjoy with neutral bright or bright if isn't aggressive, but here we have something i really like and enjoy it very much, sound is vivid and very addicting to listen, yes they have advertised something about VSA series and toxic sound, but honestly i would rather experience it for self than read advertisements... Sound is great and engaging and very fun to listen, even its slightly colored with warmth, but yet super clean and crispy, all i mean all areas on VSA MAX are state of art in terms of balance, low is great followed with above average bass extension, mids are perfection, and treble is super well executed offering both sides of coin. Overall its very enjoyable iem for analytical listening while its super musical, much more than previous models, not sure will VSA Limited have the same sonical properties like MAX.
Lows:When comes about Lows Earacoustic is famous for producing iems with great bass extension, almost all iems from Earacoustic have great lows, and VSA MAX is one of better examples, bass is punchy, tight and controlled, slam is fast and decay is natural, its clear transients are great on MAX, but later about it, bass is warm with a lot of textures and slightly deep, even its single dynamic driver it doing phenomenal job, transition from bass to sub-bass and to mid-bass is smooth and easygoing without any disconnects or bleeds out. Sub-bass extension is great, there is a lot of rumble providing your satisfying physical touch, control of sub-bass is above average with great precision. True power of VSA MAX comes with a great mid-bass that takes authority like a boss, it's very engaging and realistic, followed with great punch, its very textured followed with plenty rich details, its very clean and enjoyable to experience. Overall low area is covered almost to the perfection with MAX and with smooth transition makes mids even better.
Mid's:Huh i don't know where to start, both vocals sound great, great clarity with a lot of textures for both vocals, timbre is natural and very organic. Male vocals are above average, there is enough impact and have great tonal weight, and again my Baritones, deep voice is so full and natural. Female Vocals, ah there is some magic, and Earacoustic advertisement is correct, female vocals are so sweet and vivid, so enjoyable to listen to, very clear and smooth almost like a dynamic driver doesn't even try to push it. On some tracks female vocals give you that nice emotional feeling, almost like you are listening live, high pitched voices sound nice without some spikes or harshness usually noticeable, everything is so easy going. Instruments are above average, timbral accuracy is almost near to perfection, all instruments have enough weight to be recognizable and felt. Plenty of textures giving you unique experience combined with great vocals, it's clear how Earacoustic nailed with this model.
VSA MAX really has nice treble, it's very balanced, almost allrounder, no harshness or sibilance or any nonsense sounds, everything is so smooth, even on busiest tracks MAX never fatigued, no matter how long i have listened. There are slight improvements on previous series, much more crispy and sexy sound, with a lot of details and micro-details, even there is some warmth, it's very pleasant to enjoy details yet very musical with a lot of engagement. Due to great transients, there is a great amount of Air with a good balance of Sparkle, its very controlled and precise. Air is very realistic while Sparkle like i wrote is very crispy and engaging with a lot of energy, they really balanced treble on MAX, so most of the focus is on mids and great highs just improving it even more.
Transients:Its incredible to listen and enjoy dynamic driver, especially in this days with a lot of hybrids combined with super precise planars, here VSA MAX performing much better than i have anticipated, transients on MAX are super fast almost sharp like on planars, with great and natural decay, this area is mostly responsible for all other you will read, Earacoustic engineers tuned MAX to the MAX, for this configuration and price, transient execution is almost perfect.
Dynamics:Overall dynamics is great due to great transients, MAX reaches a very fast top peak and shifts back to low, without any effort, with great accuracy. Macro-Dynamic is great, there aren't any distortions or crazy sounds no matter how much volume is up, impact is high and has a great role in specific genres where it is all creciendo at higher volumes, there is a lot of powerful energy. While Micro-Dynamic execution is almost state of art, very responsible mostly for great female vocals, which sound so gentle and emotional, lower voices have that fragile resonance almost massaging my brain, it's very enjoyable to listen to that gentle touch, almost every low breath could be felt. As well some instruments echoing in the distance.
Soundstage and Imaging:Due to great Air, it's very clear soundstage is in one word GREAT, it's not most spacious, but enough very defined with all 3d, weight/depth and height are balanced almost equally, i giving edge to depth, very important for vocals to sound even more engaging. Position of instruments are at side very close, while vocals are slightly forward, but not aggressively to feel claustrophobic, just enough intimate to experience them better, while you like listener you are almost on sweet spot maybe little bit forward toward stage, it's very tricky to determine, depend of the tracks and genres and studio recording. Imaging executed almost perfectly, all instruments have original proportionality, sound more realistic. There aren't any crazy shifts or any movements, everything stays where it should be, even if the performer is moving its easy to pinpoint his/her location, as well location of instruments. Layering above average, you can easily hear instruments or supportive vocals behind or forward, there isn't some mixing with other instruments or vocals, everything is clear and smooth, with enough space between instruments or vocals on more busiest tracks. Everything is so nicely organized due to the dynamic driver and there aren't some jumps to ruin imaging. Overall Imaging and Soundstage are mastered on VSA MAX to improve and energize even more beautiful vocals, which to be honest are so addicting to listen to.
Gaming is great on VSA MAX, maybe not best due to great bass, but still enjoyable due to great soundstage and imaging, every step or shot can be easy pinpointed with incredibly accurace, plenty details will pop out in chilling games, making game even more relaxing, or depend of genres, i have watched some tv shows and some youtube shows, really great experience, it's always nice to see how hifi iem can be natural for daily routines.
Conclusion:Its very nice to see Earacoustic improving more and more with every model, not only in terms of sound, as well pushing down price of products and at the same time quality rising up!
