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Good bass quality.
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Easy to drive.
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Highly dynamic sounding.
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The bright treble could sound detached at times.
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Midrange is too recessed for my taste.
EarAcoustic Audio VSA Max Review
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Hello, it’s me again, Mars, back with another exciting IEM for a review. It’s the single DD IEM VSA Max from EarAcoustic Audio, which sells for $139.
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VSA Max was sent to me by EarAcoustic Audio in exchange for my honest review. You can rest assured that everything I say here is of my own volition, based on my own experience and opinions. And no money has changed hands in the process.
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EarAcoustic Audio may be a new name in the market, but they bring years of experience in making IEMs, having previously been part of TFZ Audio, a well-established brand.
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VSA Max is the second EarAcoustic Audio IEM that arrived on my table; the first one was the SPA Pro Max, a V-shaped sounding IEM. And I’m wondering how the VSA Max compares to the SPA Pro Max and other single DD IEMs, including the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti, and the NF Acous NA20. Find out in the review below.
Features
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VSA Max features an 11.4mm full-width titanium deposited diaphragm, which, to my understanding, is the whole diaphragm composed of a .003mm thin polyimide substrate, deposited with titanium, including the suspension surround, to make it light and stiff.
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A high-strength motor system consisting of dual toroidal-shaped n52 neodymium magnets that reach 1.6T of magnetic flux density to drive the voice coil is much stronger than the traditional dynamic drivers, which usually have about 1T or less of magnetic flux density.
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VSA Max uses dual acoustic chambers to control the resonance of the cavities; the front uses wool to reduce some frequencies, while the back uses tubing to tune the resonance and reduce reflection, which should result in increased soundstage size.
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Design
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I like the glass faceplate filled with circular metal flakes, which makes the VSA Max look like jewelry from afar.
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The shells feature intricate design patterns with laser-etched VSA lettering near the 2-pin sockets. A large vent near the faceplate is equipped with a nice-looking metal grill to release back pressure, while a small vent hole near the nozzles helps release ear canal pressure.
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A nice-looking grill, similar to a vent, near the faceplate covers the nozzle.
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I like how EarAcoustic Audio includes a cable that matches the aesthetic of the IEM shells, making for a cohesive-looking package.
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Comfort
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The ergonomically shaped medium-sized shell that weighs 8 grams is very comfortable to wear in long listening sessions.
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There is a properly working pressure release system for the ear canal, preventing the pressure buildup that can cause nausea or headache when walking or moving around quickly.
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I should mention that the nozzle diameter is slightly on the large side at 6.4mm, but it has never caused a problem for me.
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Cable
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VSA Max includes a very nice and thick, 2-core silver colored 2-pin modular cable with switchable plugs between 3.5mm and 4.4mm.
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Graph
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In my measurement, VSA Max forms a deep V-shape pattern, there is a substantial boost of 12dB in the bass, a dip in the midrange centered at 800 Hz followed by a 9 dB rise in the upper midrange, the peak in the treble at 8 kHz is audible, and not merely a measurement artifact like with other IEMs.
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I would love to see a perfect channel balance, but there is a minor channel imbalance below 800 Hz, which is not audible.
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Overall, the graph looks nice for a true V-shaped IEM.
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Packaging & Accessories
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VSA Max has a simple yet elegantly designed package that is efficient in its use of material and conveys a high-quality product.
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The package includes a user’s manual, a very nice-looking red storage case, seven pairs of ear tips, a modular cable that provides for the 4.4mm and 3.5mm plugs, and a pair of IEMs.
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Listening Condition
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It spent more than 24 hours in my burn-in rig. I let it play with a spare DAP and left it for a few days, as I was busy with other reviews. In hindsight, it doesn’t need that long to burn in. I estimate 12 hours should be more than enough.
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I used a mix of sources with different prices and power ranges to see how well it pairs with various qualities of sources, including the Celest CD2, TRN Black Pearl, iBasso DC Elite, and Shanling m3 Plus.
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No equalizer was used, nor any sound-enhancing features to modify the soundstage to increase dynamic range; all filter settings, if available, were set to the default brick wall fast roll-off setting.
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I tried the two types of included ear tips, and I prefer the sound of the pre-installed wide bore tips to the regular bore tips, which sound even more V-shaped, with severely boosted bass and dipped midrange. I used the stock cable with the 4.4mm plug to maximize the available power from the sources.
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Sound Signature
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There is no mistaking it, it is a true V-shaped sounding IEM from the first listen. It sounds very bassy with recessed midrange and an elevated treble, making the overall sound very contrasty.
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Bass
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VSA Max bass is tight, clean, and reasonably fast. Despite its well-boosted bass, it never sounded slow and flabby; it’s powerful, punchy, tight with good articulation, and never bled to the lower midrange.
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Even though the measured graph shows a big sub-bass boost, the VSA Max’s bass never sounded sub-bass-focused; it has a good balance between mid-bass and sub-bass.
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My only complaint is that there is too much energy in the bass sometimes, which makes some types of music not compatible with the VSA Max, especially slow songs or songs with acoustic instruments. This is the nature of a true V-shaped sound signature.
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Midrange
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If I isolate the midrange and ignore the bass and the treble, it sounds warm with good body and instrument and vocal note weight, and thanks to the moderate elevation in the upper midrange, the midrange never becomes shouty.
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But taken as a whole, the midrange is very recessed and could sometimes sound buried by the Bass and treble. Luckily, it maintains its definition and resolution, which I presume is due to the use of high-quality drivers.
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A nice sounding midrange for a V-shaped sound signature IEM, but I would not recommend the VSA Max for midrange lovers.
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Treble
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There is a substantial amount of boost in the treble, making it a bright-sounding IEM overall.
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It is open-sounding with good details and air but very forward in presentation, which could render vocals in some, not all, songs sound thin or lacking in body, especially when listening at low volumes.
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There is good resolution in the treble, but due to the peak at 8kHz, the micro-details are obscured. There is always an emphasis on the hi-hats, cymbals, and shakers in the music, obscuring the more delicate artifacts of the instruments.
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There are times when the treble could sound detached from the rest of the music, making the overall sound lack coherence as if there is a separate driver for the treble.
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On a positive note, this could be the one that some treble heads are looking for. Though I like treble, this is too much for me for long listening sessions.
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Technicalities
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VSA Max has a broad and deep soundstage with good height. The soundstage is roughly spherical, creating a natural feeling sound field around the listener. Though the soundstage is not the biggest, it is above average and can project sound outside the head.
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Though spherical, the images aren’t as holographic as I like them to be, because the presentation of the instruments and vocals is laid-back or pushed back into the back of the soundstage. It always sounds far from the listener, preventing a good holographic presentation.
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Imaging performance also suffers from its V-shape sound signature, as the treble sounds forward. In contrast, the body of the instruments and vocals sounds laid-back, causing an incoherent sound that blurs the images, preventing pinpoint and precise images from forming.
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There is good resolution and clarity of details, but it lacks the finesse and gentleness to produce micro-details accurately.
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I attribute this to the severe peak in response at 8 kHz, which may be caused by a driver diaphragm break-up, making it difficult for the VSA Max to reproduce finer details, or due to the tuning, or both.
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Layering and separation are average, but for a V-shaped tuned IEM, the layering and separation are pretty good, which I attribute to the use of a good driver.
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Pairings and Synergy
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VSA Max has good sensitivity and presents an easy load to the sources, even the smallest dongle, the Celest CD2 with its 60mW into 32 Ohms power output, didn’t have a hard time driving it to loud volume levels.
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Due to its dynamic sound, easy load, and good sensitivity, there is no dynamic compression even with the lower powered sources, or at least no dynamic compression that is calling my attention.
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As a V-shaped sounding IEM, I find it insensitive to the subtle differences in sound quality between sources. It sounds almost as good with my cheaper sources, like the Celest CD2 and TRN Black Pearl, as with the more expensive sources like the iBasso DC Elite and Shanling M3 Plus.
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In other words, you won’t gain so much sound quality switching from a decent-sounding source to a much more expensive source. It doesn’t scale very well, in audiophile terms.
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Comparisons
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EarAcoustic Audio SPA Pro Max
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SPA Pro Max features an 11.4 mm Graphene Diaphragm, Dual Magnetic Circuit, and Dual Chamber Dynamic driver with a Sensitivity of 111dB and Impedance of 30 ohms.
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SPA Pro Max has a beautiful chrome-finished metal shell and a cable that looks aesthetically matched to the IEMs.
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SPA Pro Max is smoother, less bright, and more refined sounding compared to the VSA Max. The SPA Pro Max is slightly less V-shaped and has a better-balanced sound between the bass and treble. And the midrange is not as recessed.
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SPA Pro Max has a more spacious feeling soundstage with better, more defined, and coherent imaging presentation, due to its more coherent treble compared to the VSA Max.
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Separation, layering, resolution, and details are slightly better with the SPA Pro Max, but not by much. Remember, the SPA Pro Max is a real V-shaped sounding IEM, too.
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Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti
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Falcon Ultra Ti features a 10.7mm dynamic driver unit with an all-new lithium magnesium alloy dome structure. Impedance: 16Ω@1kHz and Sensitivity: 108dB±1dB.
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Housed in a compact full stainless-steel shell, it has a weighty feel and feels solid in the hand. The included cable is a modular MMCX with 4.4mm and 3.5mm plugs.
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This is less of a comparison and more of a reference to the neutral-sounding Dunu Falcon Ultra. You see, due to the severe V-shape sound of the VSA Max, I must use the Neutral Falcon Ultra in between listening to neutralize my hearing, or to cleanse my palette.
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Falcon Ultra has less bass boost, with less bass punch and energy. It has a slightly warm lower midrange and a flat midrange to treble response, making it a much less of a Boom’n’tizz kind of sound compared to the VSA Max.
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Soundstage, imaging, and other technicalities are where the Falcon Ultra trumps the VSA Max, because of the flatter frequency response, allowing it to present the individual instruments and vocals more accurately.
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That said, it is not limited to the Falcon Ultra; any IEM with a flat response and a good quality driver can present a more accurate sound and thus, better technicalities than the VSA Max.
NF Acous NA20
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NA20 features a 10mm beryllium-plated dynamic driver with a Sensitivity of 109 dB / mW and an Impedance of 32 ohms. A front cavity filter that reduces cavity resonance and cleans up the sound.
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Housed is a thick polycarbonate shell with a metal inset on the edge of the faceplate. NA20 feels light yet solid with a high-quality feel. It comes with a 3.5mm cable that looks aesthetically matched to the IEM.
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NA20 is also a V-shaped IEM, but it has a more balanced overall sound, with the midrange not as recessed as the VSA Max, giving it a more transparent and more precise overall sound.
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The bass isn’t as loud and certainly doesn’t overpower the music as the VSA Max sometimes does. NA20 has a quicker and more accurate bass with better articulation and details. And regarding midrange, NA20 has more presence and more forward presentation.
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Treble is also elevated in the NA20, but it has a lesser peak and has more overall clarity and smoothness, though I wouldn’t call it a smooth treble in absolute terms.
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Overall, the NA20 is a less extreme V-shaped IEM compared to the VSA Max.
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VSA Max Technical Details
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Model: VSA-MAX
Unit: 11.4MM Full-Range Titanium Diaphragm
Dual-Magnetic Circuit
Dual-Cavity Tesla Dynamic Coil Unit
Sensitivity: 110dB
Impedance: 32 Ohms
Frequency Response Range: 5-40,000Hz
Wire Specifications: 4.4MM + 3.5MM 2-in-1,
408-Core Litz Oxygen-Free Copper and Silver-Plated Wire Mixed Weave
0.78MM Double Pin
1.20M Wire Length
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Pros
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Good bass quality.
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Easy to drive.
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Highly dynamic sounding.
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Cons
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The bright treble could sound detached at times.
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Midrange is too recessed for my taste.
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Conclusion
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Once again, EarAcoustic Audio has released a high-quality and good-looking IEM at a reasonably affordable price, with lovely accessories, which include a high-quality modular cable that looks good with the IEMs.
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I like how easy it is to drive, and it can go loud with modest power without causing difficulty to the sources. I like the energetic sound with good dynamics, which can easily bring me to the fun zone when listening to some electronic and club music.
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However, I don’t like the elevated treble response that could sometimes sound detached from the rest of the music. I wish EarAcoustic Audio would consider a more neutral V-shaped sound in the next release, but I know some people who listen to specific kinds of music enjoy the sound the VSA Max has.
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I would advise people who are treble sensitive to avoid the VSA Max at all costs.
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That said, I would recommend treble heads or treble lovers to consider taking a look and listening to the EarAcoustic Audio VSA Max. Who knows? You might like its sound.
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Non-affiliated purchase links:
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https://www.linsoul.com/products/earacoustic-vsa-max...
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https://penonaudio.com/EarAcoustic-VSA-MAX.html
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https://www.lazada.com.ph/.../earacoustic-audio-vsa-max...
