Comparison.

The comparison was done using VE7 with a stock cable, SpinFit eartips, and LPGT source; volume matched in every comparison.

VE7 vs VE Elysium – This comparison was definitely a surprise, a tribrid design of Ely vs all BA VE7.  With both using stock cables, I find VE7 soundstage to be wider, though Ely does scale up with upgrade cables.  As expected, Ely’s bass scales up in quantity, especially sub-bass expansion, but overall quality is very similar, just that VE7 quantity is more neutral in comparison.  Treble also has a very similar brighter and more energetic tonality, though VE7 upper frequency intensity is dialed up a little bit higher.  Now, the mids.  Ely is famous for its DD mids, being very natural, musical, soulful.  But here is a thing, VE7 mids remind me in a way of Ely’s.  Perhaps, they don’t have the same texture and definitely lacking the same warmth, but they have a similar natural quality.  Also, due to sensitivity difference, it was a lot easier to drive VE7 while I had to raise volume with Ely.

VE7 vs Noble K10UA – Despite showing its age quite a bit, I find K10UA to be still relevant and it was an interesting comparison with VE7 since they are not too far off in tuning.  The perception of VE7 soundstage is a touch wider, but I think it has to do with a fact that VE7 treble has a better extension and more air.  K10UA treble is a bit smoother in comparison.  Their mids/vocals tonality and presentation are very close, perhaps with VE7 upper mids being slightly more forward.  Bass is a little bit different, not by too much, but K10UA bass is fuller and a little slower, while VE7 bass is more neutral, faster, and tighter.

VE7 vs CFA Andromeda ’20 – Another big surprise actually since I found quite a few similarities in this comparison.  Using stock cables, I do hear Andro to expand just a touch wider in soundstage.  With bass, VE7 is more neutral, fast, tight, controlled, Andro’s bass is warmer, slower, more laidback, a bit more north of neutral.  With mids and vocals, I was surprised by how similar they sound, both in terms of tonality and technicality, being natural and leaning toward musical tonality with a good retrieval of details.  Both also have a crisp and clear treble, energetic and sparkly, but with a few differences, such as Andro can get a bit sibilant with some of the poorly recorded tracks, while VE7 has more control in lower treble and more air in upper treble.

VE7 vs 64 Audio U12t w/M15 – I figured with an all-BA design some might be curious how it compares.  VE7 soundstage is wider and quite noticeable.  Bass is warmer and more elevated in U12t while, in comparison, VE7 bass is more neutral, tighter, faster.  Mids in U12t have more body, which is noticeable in lower mids where VE7 is leaner and more neutral.  Upper mids are relatively the same, though you will notice in vocals with U12t a thicker body while VE7 will be natural and leaner, more revealing.  Treble is different as well with U12t being attenuated down in comparison to a lot more energetic brighter and airier treble of VE7.

Source pair up.

In each source pair up, I was using a stock cable and SpinFit stock eartips.  VE7 is very easy to drive considering its 116dB sensitivity and 12ohm impedance.  No hissing was detected.  For your reference, these are brief pair up notes.  And by brief, I just focus on any changes related to signature and general tonality, without going into too many details of technical performance difference.

Lotoo LPGT – baseline sound with balanced signature and neutral revealing tonality.  The treble is bright and crisp, but not harsh.

Cayin N6ii w/E02 and ddhifi 4.4mm/3.5mm adapter – very similar to LPGT but with added weight in bass, especially deeper and more textured sub-bass rumble.

L&P P6 Pro – I do hear added sub-bass rumble and overall bass having more weight and texture.  The same with mids and vocals, smoother and more textured tonality.  Treble is still crisp, but a little smoother and more natural.

Hiby R6 2020 – the pair up is very similar to LPGT, would probably be hard to tell them apart.

A&K SP2000 SS – the sound sig is still balanced, but now it is more W-shaped where bass, mids, and treble came up.  Bass is warmer and has more weight, goes even deeper.  Mids are very similar, just with a touch more body.  And treble because a little brighter, spikier, and even sibilant in a few tracks.

Lotoo LPGT + Cayin C9 – right away I hear a more expanded wider soundstage.  Also, bass gained more weight and body, and mids/vocals also have more body.  But unfortunately, I do hear a hissing in this combination, a background waterfall like white noise which I didn’t detect with any other sources.  VE7 were dead quiet with all sources, but in this pair up it was noisy.

Conclusion.

Vision Ears put a lot of emphasis into promoting VE7 as their neutrally tuned IEM.  But from what I have seen in the past, the reference to neutral sometimes turns people off because they assume it will be a dry lifeless sound.  In this new release, it feels like VE gave neutral a whole new meaning where you can enjoy the sound without a need for a bass boost or a coloring.  I would even go as far as saying that in the last few weeks VE7 became my EDC (every-day carry) companion while using it with a smartphone and a laptop.

You might already have your basshead tuned IEMs with a deep rumble and elevated impact or your crisp-tuned IEMs with analytical micro-details.  Now, you can complement those with VE7 neutral balanced signature that focuses on clear detailed sound and revealing transparent tonality that bypasses the coloring.  And they don’t just stand out because of their unique tuning, but also due to a more reasonable pricing and the ergonomics of the design that makes you feel like you are wearing CIEMs with a beautifully crafted custom faceplate.