First a little background, I won a Govibe DAC in one of the many contests that Uncle Wilson from Jaben Singapore throws on his forums. The people who participated in the contest, but did not win anything received a free Hippo Boom earphone to make them feel better ! :allteeth:
Since I already had a DAC and I wanted another earphone to play with I asked the Indian distributor Moshel if he could send me a Hippo Boom in addition to the DAC. However he sent me this Hippo VB earphone instead.
I liked the variable bass feature of these earphones and decided to read up on some reviews of the Hippos. Unfortunately there were none that I could find.
So it made all the more sense to write a review so that others can know about them.
To add more to the review I decided to compare them with 2 other similarly priced earphones - the Head-direct RE1 and the Crossroads Woodie 2. Both of these earphones cost around the $80 - $90 mark.
[BREAK=Specifications]
Driver: 10mm Mylar
Impedance: 32 Ohm
Sensitivity: 105dB
Frequency response: 18Hz – 22kHz
Plug: Angled 3.5mm gold-plated plug (Fits Iphone)
Accessories: Case, 3 single flanged silicon tips, shirt clip, 3 bass ports
From the specs it is obvious that at a 105dB sensitivity & 32 ohms these can be driven easily from most portable sources which makes an amplifier redundant. I don't give much importance to the frequency response as more often than not they are very misleading.
The Woodies 2 share the same specification since they share the same drivers. However the sound is very different between the two.
The RE1s are the hardest to drive at 150 ohms and 103dB which means that an amplifier is necessary in order for the RE1s to sound their best.
[BREAK=Package and Build Quality]
The open box
There are just 3 tips - Small, medium & large which is rather disappointing considering these earphones retail for $79.
The driver housing
The right angled jack can be inserted into an iphone (at least that's whats mentioned on the box !)
The tunable bass ports
Well the packaging is sparse considering the amount of accessories you get with say the $25 Soundmagic PL-30 or the Head-direct RE1.
The case is a plain case without any branding but its hard enough to protect your earphones.
However on the bright side you do get all the necessary accessories like a case and a shirt clip.
And while the accessories are below average the build quality is definitely above average. The driver housing is made of metal (most likely aluminum). 3 screw-on plates are provided for screwing on to the rear of the housing to alter the sound for more bass and/or for more treble.
The cable is very nice and flexible but you will get a lot of microphonics (ruffling sound if the cable brushes any part of your body) if you wear the IEMs straight. I however loop them around my ear so the microphonics issue becomes practically non existent.
However the first port veils the mid range and treble while the final port increases sibilance and thins the bass so I will not review these two ports. So in the end, the Hippo VB is reduced to a non tunable IEM as the two extra ports changes the sound for the worse.
[BREAK=Fit & Isolation]
The isolation is very decent and even fitting them into your ear is pretty easy. You can either choose to wear them straight or around the ear. I prefer around the ear as it reduces microphonics. Since the rear ports are not sealed the isolation is ok but nothing to rave about. I use it while traveling by train and it blocks out most of the sound. If I use the bi flange tips from the Head-direct RE1 set, then isolation improves a bit but sound is more or less the same. I have used the RE1 ear tips since I have lost one of the medium tips. :ashamed:
So to even out the comparison I used the RE1 tips with the Crossroads Woodie 2 as well.
[BREAK=Sound Quality]
Well down to business. This is the most subjective part of the review and many people might experience a rather different sound.
I used the Hisound audio Amp3 Pro 2 for the review connected directly without any amp.
I used some of my favourite songs that I have heard hundreds of times.
First thing to note is that this requires at least 100 hours of burn-in. I showed these to Faheem after 40 hours and we both agreed it sounded terrible. However someone on head-fi suggested I burn them in for another 50 - 60 hours and now the sound has settled down.
The Crossroads Woodie 2 is also burned in for about 80 hours while the RE1s have over 150 hours since i have used them for around 6 months already.
1. ABBA - Lay all your love one me.
I like ABBA as a band and I chose this track since it has a lot of different instruments used.
Hippo VB - Ah great bass impact. Drums have great impact and extends rather low. Whats very refreshing is how tight the bass is and the drums never drown out any other instruments. Great instrument separation with an above average soundstage. Treble is crisp with a slight harshness. No sibilance (harshness when 's' words are sung by the singer) to speak off in this track.
The beautiful voices are not very lush and the sound is very neutral with good detail. This is definitely not a earphone I would choose for music like Jazz or Pop. This is more suited for Rock or instrumental music.
Woodie 2 -Great bass impact and depth just like the Hippo VB but its slightly less controlled and a tad boomy. It also drowns out some of the background instruments that I could hear with the VBs. However the vocals are very warm, dynamic and engaging. The vocals sound smooth & lush but the bass does overpower the vocals a bit. Its a tie between the VB and Woodie 2 for first place.
RE1 - Vocals sound great ! Drums have good impact and depth. However the treble seems muted and smooth and the song seems a little different as both the VB and Woodie have great treble. A lot of background instruments that I could hear with the VB were muffled and not clearly heard. The VB sounded better here technically but I prefered the RE1 since it was a LOT smoother.
2. Queen - We are the champions
Hippo VB - The vocals sounds smooth but a tad recessed (i.e. the volume of the vocals sounded low). The bass has a good definition and impact. The electric guitar has a lot of body & energy which is a treat to listen to ! The overall sound is big and more on the warm side. A commendable performance from the VBs.
Woodie 2 -The sound is nice and airy with great bass impact. The sound is very detailed and rather 3D in nature. The electric guitar also has great energy which really adds to this song. I would rate the Woodies 2 first, the VBs second and the RE1 last for this song.
RE1 - The forward vocals on the RE1 makes the vocals sound great - very smooth and rather lush. However the forward vocals can muffle the background instruments a bit. The electric guitar lacks that energy that was there in the VB and sounds a little too smooth for a Rock track. A rather mixed performance for the RE1.
3. Mr Mister - Broken Wings
One of the old favourites of mine.
Hippo VB - The vocals is slightly sibilant and harsh but not too bad and does not detract much from the song. The VBs sound very balanced in this track with a rather wide sound stage. I could easily hear the background instruments which was very nice. While I enjoyed the song the harshness did detract just a bit.
Woodie 2 - First off the bass seems to have to a better body than the VBs but it does not sound 'boomy'. The sound also seems more lush compared to the VBs. Treble is crisp and has a bit of sparkle. However these earphones are more sibilant than the VBs and I had to reduce the volume in order to listen to this track. On a lower volume you cant hear a lot of sibilance and I started to enjoy this song again. I feel the bass is better on the Woodie and I just love the lushness of the sound. After reducing the volume, I feel the Woodies 2 come out on top with this song.
RE1 - Ah what a soundstage ! Its the first thing that hits you once the song starts and you get a WIDE soundstage. In the middle of the track there is a section where vocals stop and a lot of instruments are played. The RE1 handled that section with authority and none of the instruments were drowned out. The vocals were smooth with not even a hint of harshness or sibilance. A definite win for the RE1
4. Eyes on me - Celine Dion
One of my all time favourite songs. I really like Celine Dion as a singer and this is one song I really like.
Hippo VB - The instrument separation is impeccable. I can close my eyes and concentrate on each individual instrument playing which is a real treat ! Celine's voice sounds good with a hint of harshness. The drums have awesome impact and finesse as it sounds powerful but doesn't drown out any other instrument leading to a very clean and balanced sound. Treble is well extended (i.e. the earphone can play very high frequency sounds which you cannot hear from the RE1) and there is very little sibilance in some of the passages. All in all a very commendable performance by the VB on this track.
Woodie 2 -From the beginning I knew the Woodie 2 will win this track. What bass ! What energy ! A very engaging lush sound. I am now a fan of wood ! To come down to earth there is a slight harshness in Celine's beautiful voice but it did nothing to bring stop the Woodie 2 from winning this round.
RE1 - While the song sounds great - smooth vocals with no harshness and sibilance, with drums having more than sufficient impact and depth, the missing treble is rather noticeable. I could clearly hear the mids and bass but the treble has no extension to speak off. The song also lacked that energy that the VB has and it sounded too smooth for my tastes. While I still liked the RE1s presentation of this song, the VB does better. For the first time I kinda wished that the Amp3 had an EQ as I would have liked to boost the treble for this song.
5. Cant lose what you never had - Westlife
I like Westlife as a band and while this is not my favorite song I chose it since the are certain passages in the song when all the band members start singing together and is a good test for soundstage and positioning.
Hippo VB - Ah great bass ! Has great impact and depth. Westlife's voices are however a bit harsh and it certainly detracts from the song. I had to lower the volume in order to listen to the song. Nice soundstage & good positioning of the voices but it never made me go WOW. Good details in the instruments and vocal positioning but harsh & slightly sibilant vocals kinda ruin a good song.
Woodie 2 -The superb bass hits you first ! What impact ! What body ! I thought the VBs were the best in bass but the Woodies are better. And then the harshness rears its head and detracts a bit but its not so bad as to completely ruin the song. But even with the harshness I couldn't help but notice there was a certain lushness to the song (I thought lushness and harshness were completely opposite to one another ? )
The soundstage has was pretty decent as well.
RE1 - The groups vocals sound amazingly smooth and lush with zero harshness and zero sibilance. The RE1 soundly trounces the VB and Woodie 2 in this song. The wide soundstage of the RE1 makes for impeccable positioning of the different voices in the song. The bass impact and depth is more than sufficient for this track but is lesser compared to the other two earphones. I have heard this track more than 10 times but I never fail to get amazed with the RE1 on this track. The sound is so wide I sometimes instinctively turn my head to hear some of the background sounds ! The RE1 comes first in this track with the other two a distant second and third.
6. Roxette - Come back before you leave
Another favourite of mine.
Hippo VB - The VB stamps its authority on this track. The bass is very quick and handles the fast pace of the bass with authority. Treble extends pretty high, vocals sound smooth and the VB resolves the finer background sounds very well indeed. I could easily hear the faint background instruments and the drums did not drown out any of the other instruments or vocals. Excellent performance by the VB.
Woodie 2 -Ah what bass, I could be wrong but it seems deeper (than the VB) and it definitely has more body and impact. Vocals sound great no harshness or sibilance to speak off. Good amount of detail and I am really liking the bass impact even though its not as fast as the VBs bass. It feels almost like I have a subwoofer in my head ! Soundstage is also pretty average with sufficient width and depth. Good performance but not the best.
RE1 - Ah ! What smoothness ! While both the VB & Woodie 2 have awesome bass & treble, the RE1 is a completely different IEM. The vocals sound so smooth and lush ! The treble lacks any crispness or sparkle that both the other earphones have and sounds very smooth. The bass is there & it extends rather deep but the impact is much softer which adds to the smoothness. The soundstage also impresses as its really wide. The sound is also rather warm and the RE1 (IMO) sounds the best with this track.
[BREAK=Tests with Meier Corda Porta III amplifier]
I also tested the VBs with my Meier Porta Corda III to see if amping can bring any benifit to the sound.
1. Abba - Lay all your love on me
A wider soundstage. Bass has more control. The wider soundstage however makes the sound seem a little laid back. I somehow did not like this track after amping. However with amp this song is very neutral which is good for audiophiles as they like neutrality. (I am not an audiophile so I am biased towards the Crossroads Woodie 2 which has a warmer sound presentation)
hyeah:
2. Queen - We are the champions
The wider soundstage is again immediately noticeable. Freddies voice is more forward with amping. Amping definitely helps with this song.
3. Mister Mister - Broken Wings
Very wide sound with plenty of detail. Harshness still prevalent but reduced.
4. Celine Dion - Eyes on me
Sound gets a bit wider. Bass starts to rumble like the Woodies 2 now. Ah the energetic presentation is contagious and I started to shake my head to the beats. But I still prefer the Woodies purely for the lushness in the sound
5. Westlife - Cant lose what you never had.
Bass depth and impact has improved. So has the soundstage (much wider now) and very noticeable. Voices has lost a LOT of its harshness but some slight harshness & sibilance prevail in certain bright passages. I could be wrong but I believe that I can hear more detail in the song that I could not hear without the amp. (Or is it because of the wider soundstage ?). The sound has definitely improved over running the VB unamped. But I still prefer the Woodies sound because of the lushness it has while the VBs still sound rather neutral.
6. Roxette - Come Back before you leave.
The song seems a bit smoother and again the soundstage is much wider. Again the bass has speed and impact making for an engaging sound. I feel the amped VBs sound better than the Woodies as the sound is much wider and the bass is much faster.
That said amping is not necessary to enjoy the VBs.
[BREAK=Conclusion]
The VBs are pretty neutral earphones with deep tight bass, extended treble & neutral mids and so will appeal to a very large audience. They have good soundstage but at the same time there is a bit of harshness and sibiliance. These are best suited for Rock music or music with lots of instruments.
However for a price of $79 they can easily punch above their weight and I wont hesitate in recommending them if are looking for a well built neutral sounding IEM with great treble and deep tight bass.
Moshel from this forum is the Indian distributor for Crossroads so you can PM him for the Indian price. I believe its around 3500 or so.
If someone wishes to reduce the treble, he/she can stuff some foam down the ear canals of the VB and the harshness/sibilance becomes negligible. However the sparkle and crispness of the treble is reduced. However the mod is completely and easily reversible so its worth a try if you dont like harsh treble. So in addition to being a VB (Variable Bass) earphone, its also a VT (Variable treble) earphone. :bleh:
So which one is the clear winner of this 'test' ? Well none of them ! They all have their own strengths and weaknesses. The VBs are by far the most neutral of the three. The RE1s dont have the sheer bass impact as the other two but are very smooth and easy to listen to with the best soundstage. The Woodie Two are very lush with deep bass and slightly harsh treble.
That said the I prefer the Woodies over the VBs. The lushness that the wooden housing brings to the sound is something appealing to me since I listen to music with a lot of vocals. The RE1s are also special to me as I can listen to them for hours and hours without any fatigue. However they need an amp to shine.
Since I already had a DAC and I wanted another earphone to play with I asked the Indian distributor Moshel if he could send me a Hippo Boom in addition to the DAC. However he sent me this Hippo VB earphone instead.
I liked the variable bass feature of these earphones and decided to read up on some reviews of the Hippos. Unfortunately there were none that I could find.
So it made all the more sense to write a review so that others can know about them.
To add more to the review I decided to compare them with 2 other similarly priced earphones - the Head-direct RE1 and the Crossroads Woodie 2. Both of these earphones cost around the $80 - $90 mark.
[BREAK=Specifications]
Driver: 10mm Mylar
Impedance: 32 Ohm
Sensitivity: 105dB
Frequency response: 18Hz – 22kHz
Plug: Angled 3.5mm gold-plated plug (Fits Iphone)
Accessories: Case, 3 single flanged silicon tips, shirt clip, 3 bass ports
From the specs it is obvious that at a 105dB sensitivity & 32 ohms these can be driven easily from most portable sources which makes an amplifier redundant. I don't give much importance to the frequency response as more often than not they are very misleading.
The Woodies 2 share the same specification since they share the same drivers. However the sound is very different between the two.
The RE1s are the hardest to drive at 150 ohms and 103dB which means that an amplifier is necessary in order for the RE1s to sound their best.
[BREAK=Package and Build Quality]
The open box
There are just 3 tips - Small, medium & large which is rather disappointing considering these earphones retail for $79.
The driver housing
The right angled jack can be inserted into an iphone (at least that's whats mentioned on the box !)
The tunable bass ports
Well the packaging is sparse considering the amount of accessories you get with say the $25 Soundmagic PL-30 or the Head-direct RE1.
The case is a plain case without any branding but its hard enough to protect your earphones.
However on the bright side you do get all the necessary accessories like a case and a shirt clip.
And while the accessories are below average the build quality is definitely above average. The driver housing is made of metal (most likely aluminum). 3 screw-on plates are provided for screwing on to the rear of the housing to alter the sound for more bass and/or for more treble.
The cable is very nice and flexible but you will get a lot of microphonics (ruffling sound if the cable brushes any part of your body) if you wear the IEMs straight. I however loop them around my ear so the microphonics issue becomes practically non existent.
However the first port veils the mid range and treble while the final port increases sibilance and thins the bass so I will not review these two ports. So in the end, the Hippo VB is reduced to a non tunable IEM as the two extra ports changes the sound for the worse.
[BREAK=Fit & Isolation]
The isolation is very decent and even fitting them into your ear is pretty easy. You can either choose to wear them straight or around the ear. I prefer around the ear as it reduces microphonics. Since the rear ports are not sealed the isolation is ok but nothing to rave about. I use it while traveling by train and it blocks out most of the sound. If I use the bi flange tips from the Head-direct RE1 set, then isolation improves a bit but sound is more or less the same. I have used the RE1 ear tips since I have lost one of the medium tips. :ashamed:
So to even out the comparison I used the RE1 tips with the Crossroads Woodie 2 as well.
[BREAK=Sound Quality]
Well down to business. This is the most subjective part of the review and many people might experience a rather different sound.
I used the Hisound audio Amp3 Pro 2 for the review connected directly without any amp.
I used some of my favourite songs that I have heard hundreds of times.
First thing to note is that this requires at least 100 hours of burn-in. I showed these to Faheem after 40 hours and we both agreed it sounded terrible. However someone on head-fi suggested I burn them in for another 50 - 60 hours and now the sound has settled down.
The Crossroads Woodie 2 is also burned in for about 80 hours while the RE1s have over 150 hours since i have used them for around 6 months already.
1. ABBA - Lay all your love one me.
I like ABBA as a band and I chose this track since it has a lot of different instruments used.
Hippo VB - Ah great bass impact. Drums have great impact and extends rather low. Whats very refreshing is how tight the bass is and the drums never drown out any other instruments. Great instrument separation with an above average soundstage. Treble is crisp with a slight harshness. No sibilance (harshness when 's' words are sung by the singer) to speak off in this track.
The beautiful voices are not very lush and the sound is very neutral with good detail. This is definitely not a earphone I would choose for music like Jazz or Pop. This is more suited for Rock or instrumental music.
Woodie 2 -Great bass impact and depth just like the Hippo VB but its slightly less controlled and a tad boomy. It also drowns out some of the background instruments that I could hear with the VBs. However the vocals are very warm, dynamic and engaging. The vocals sound smooth & lush but the bass does overpower the vocals a bit. Its a tie between the VB and Woodie 2 for first place.
RE1 - Vocals sound great ! Drums have good impact and depth. However the treble seems muted and smooth and the song seems a little different as both the VB and Woodie have great treble. A lot of background instruments that I could hear with the VB were muffled and not clearly heard. The VB sounded better here technically but I prefered the RE1 since it was a LOT smoother.
2. Queen - We are the champions
Hippo VB - The vocals sounds smooth but a tad recessed (i.e. the volume of the vocals sounded low). The bass has a good definition and impact. The electric guitar has a lot of body & energy which is a treat to listen to ! The overall sound is big and more on the warm side. A commendable performance from the VBs.
Woodie 2 -The sound is nice and airy with great bass impact. The sound is very detailed and rather 3D in nature. The electric guitar also has great energy which really adds to this song. I would rate the Woodies 2 first, the VBs second and the RE1 last for this song.
RE1 - The forward vocals on the RE1 makes the vocals sound great - very smooth and rather lush. However the forward vocals can muffle the background instruments a bit. The electric guitar lacks that energy that was there in the VB and sounds a little too smooth for a Rock track. A rather mixed performance for the RE1.
3. Mr Mister - Broken Wings
One of the old favourites of mine.
Hippo VB - The vocals is slightly sibilant and harsh but not too bad and does not detract much from the song. The VBs sound very balanced in this track with a rather wide sound stage. I could easily hear the background instruments which was very nice. While I enjoyed the song the harshness did detract just a bit.
Woodie 2 - First off the bass seems to have to a better body than the VBs but it does not sound 'boomy'. The sound also seems more lush compared to the VBs. Treble is crisp and has a bit of sparkle. However these earphones are more sibilant than the VBs and I had to reduce the volume in order to listen to this track. On a lower volume you cant hear a lot of sibilance and I started to enjoy this song again. I feel the bass is better on the Woodie and I just love the lushness of the sound. After reducing the volume, I feel the Woodies 2 come out on top with this song.
RE1 - Ah what a soundstage ! Its the first thing that hits you once the song starts and you get a WIDE soundstage. In the middle of the track there is a section where vocals stop and a lot of instruments are played. The RE1 handled that section with authority and none of the instruments were drowned out. The vocals were smooth with not even a hint of harshness or sibilance. A definite win for the RE1
4. Eyes on me - Celine Dion
One of my all time favourite songs. I really like Celine Dion as a singer and this is one song I really like.
Hippo VB - The instrument separation is impeccable. I can close my eyes and concentrate on each individual instrument playing which is a real treat ! Celine's voice sounds good with a hint of harshness. The drums have awesome impact and finesse as it sounds powerful but doesn't drown out any other instrument leading to a very clean and balanced sound. Treble is well extended (i.e. the earphone can play very high frequency sounds which you cannot hear from the RE1) and there is very little sibilance in some of the passages. All in all a very commendable performance by the VB on this track.
Woodie 2 -From the beginning I knew the Woodie 2 will win this track. What bass ! What energy ! A very engaging lush sound. I am now a fan of wood ! To come down to earth there is a slight harshness in Celine's beautiful voice but it did nothing to bring stop the Woodie 2 from winning this round.
RE1 - While the song sounds great - smooth vocals with no harshness and sibilance, with drums having more than sufficient impact and depth, the missing treble is rather noticeable. I could clearly hear the mids and bass but the treble has no extension to speak off. The song also lacked that energy that the VB has and it sounded too smooth for my tastes. While I still liked the RE1s presentation of this song, the VB does better. For the first time I kinda wished that the Amp3 had an EQ as I would have liked to boost the treble for this song.
5. Cant lose what you never had - Westlife
I like Westlife as a band and while this is not my favorite song I chose it since the are certain passages in the song when all the band members start singing together and is a good test for soundstage and positioning.
Hippo VB - Ah great bass ! Has great impact and depth. Westlife's voices are however a bit harsh and it certainly detracts from the song. I had to lower the volume in order to listen to the song. Nice soundstage & good positioning of the voices but it never made me go WOW. Good details in the instruments and vocal positioning but harsh & slightly sibilant vocals kinda ruin a good song.
Woodie 2 -The superb bass hits you first ! What impact ! What body ! I thought the VBs were the best in bass but the Woodies are better. And then the harshness rears its head and detracts a bit but its not so bad as to completely ruin the song. But even with the harshness I couldn't help but notice there was a certain lushness to the song (I thought lushness and harshness were completely opposite to one another ? )
The soundstage has was pretty decent as well.
RE1 - The groups vocals sound amazingly smooth and lush with zero harshness and zero sibilance. The RE1 soundly trounces the VB and Woodie 2 in this song. The wide soundstage of the RE1 makes for impeccable positioning of the different voices in the song. The bass impact and depth is more than sufficient for this track but is lesser compared to the other two earphones. I have heard this track more than 10 times but I never fail to get amazed with the RE1 on this track. The sound is so wide I sometimes instinctively turn my head to hear some of the background sounds ! The RE1 comes first in this track with the other two a distant second and third.
6. Roxette - Come back before you leave
Another favourite of mine.
Hippo VB - The VB stamps its authority on this track. The bass is very quick and handles the fast pace of the bass with authority. Treble extends pretty high, vocals sound smooth and the VB resolves the finer background sounds very well indeed. I could easily hear the faint background instruments and the drums did not drown out any of the other instruments or vocals. Excellent performance by the VB.
Woodie 2 -Ah what bass, I could be wrong but it seems deeper (than the VB) and it definitely has more body and impact. Vocals sound great no harshness or sibilance to speak off. Good amount of detail and I am really liking the bass impact even though its not as fast as the VBs bass. It feels almost like I have a subwoofer in my head ! Soundstage is also pretty average with sufficient width and depth. Good performance but not the best.
RE1 - Ah ! What smoothness ! While both the VB & Woodie 2 have awesome bass & treble, the RE1 is a completely different IEM. The vocals sound so smooth and lush ! The treble lacks any crispness or sparkle that both the other earphones have and sounds very smooth. The bass is there & it extends rather deep but the impact is much softer which adds to the smoothness. The soundstage also impresses as its really wide. The sound is also rather warm and the RE1 (IMO) sounds the best with this track.
[BREAK=Tests with Meier Corda Porta III amplifier]
I also tested the VBs with my Meier Porta Corda III to see if amping can bring any benifit to the sound.
1. Abba - Lay all your love on me
A wider soundstage. Bass has more control. The wider soundstage however makes the sound seem a little laid back. I somehow did not like this track after amping. However with amp this song is very neutral which is good for audiophiles as they like neutrality. (I am not an audiophile so I am biased towards the Crossroads Woodie 2 which has a warmer sound presentation)
hyeah:2. Queen - We are the champions
The wider soundstage is again immediately noticeable. Freddies voice is more forward with amping. Amping definitely helps with this song.
3. Mister Mister - Broken Wings
Very wide sound with plenty of detail. Harshness still prevalent but reduced.
4. Celine Dion - Eyes on me
Sound gets a bit wider. Bass starts to rumble like the Woodies 2 now. Ah the energetic presentation is contagious and I started to shake my head to the beats. But I still prefer the Woodies purely for the lushness in the sound
5. Westlife - Cant lose what you never had.
Bass depth and impact has improved. So has the soundstage (much wider now) and very noticeable. Voices has lost a LOT of its harshness but some slight harshness & sibilance prevail in certain bright passages. I could be wrong but I believe that I can hear more detail in the song that I could not hear without the amp. (Or is it because of the wider soundstage ?). The sound has definitely improved over running the VB unamped. But I still prefer the Woodies sound because of the lushness it has while the VBs still sound rather neutral.
6. Roxette - Come Back before you leave.
The song seems a bit smoother and again the soundstage is much wider. Again the bass has speed and impact making for an engaging sound. I feel the amped VBs sound better than the Woodies as the sound is much wider and the bass is much faster.
That said amping is not necessary to enjoy the VBs.
[BREAK=Conclusion]
The VBs are pretty neutral earphones with deep tight bass, extended treble & neutral mids and so will appeal to a very large audience. They have good soundstage but at the same time there is a bit of harshness and sibiliance. These are best suited for Rock music or music with lots of instruments.
However for a price of $79 they can easily punch above their weight and I wont hesitate in recommending them if are looking for a well built neutral sounding IEM with great treble and deep tight bass.
Moshel from this forum is the Indian distributor for Crossroads so you can PM him for the Indian price. I believe its around 3500 or so.
If someone wishes to reduce the treble, he/she can stuff some foam down the ear canals of the VB and the harshness/sibilance becomes negligible. However the sparkle and crispness of the treble is reduced. However the mod is completely and easily reversible so its worth a try if you dont like harsh treble. So in addition to being a VB (Variable Bass) earphone, its also a VT (Variable treble) earphone. :bleh:
So which one is the clear winner of this 'test' ? Well none of them ! They all have their own strengths and weaknesses. The VBs are by far the most neutral of the three. The RE1s dont have the sheer bass impact as the other two but are very smooth and easy to listen to with the best soundstage. The Woodie Two are very lush with deep bass and slightly harsh treble.
That said the I prefer the Woodies over the VBs. The lushness that the wooden housing brings to the sound is something appealing to me since I listen to music with a lot of vocals. The RE1s are also special to me as I can listen to them for hours and hours without any fatigue. However they need an amp to shine.
Read it on Head-fi already. 
Nice review and comparison Brendon,time to rep ya.
