REVIEW: BASE AUDIO G8 – BEST BANG FOR BUCK?
BY DAVE $1-$100, BUDGET, HEADPHONES, IN-EARS, REVIEW 10/10/2016
Disclaimer: The Base Audio G8 sample was sent to us free of charge by Base Audio for the purpose of this review. It doesn’t need to be returned. The Italic parts are Base Audio’s description of the G8 IEM.
http://www.headfonia.com/review-base-audio-g8-best-bang-for-buck/
Base Audio
Of all the reviews I have written so far for Headfonia, I think this might have been the one I was most excited about. I have done reviews of lesser known, obscure gear before, but this would be my first time reviewing a product where I might actually be able to help it get created. What a dream come true! The Base Audio G8 earphone is currently being Kickstartered!, and there is hope that this review might be able to put them over the top. Of course, as of me writing this, the campaign isn’t far from its goal. By the time this goes live, even though it will have 20 days left, it might already have reached its goal; there for, ruining my dreams and making me cry into my morning cereal. Of course, on the other hand, that means I can recommend to you, dear readers, a great IEM without worry that the campaign won’t be funded, so, I suppose that is a win. Base Audio is a fairly new company based out of Scottsdale, AZ. Base Audio was created by Joe O’Connor and Mike Eberly. Together, the founders have a combined 40 years of development, engineering and manufacturing experience. With an innovative eye for design, high quality products, and a zest for quality music. The creators continually strive to produce precision audio equipment, manufactured in the United States. They have one other headphone available, the Reflex G7. I haven’t heard it, but it has a few pretty solid reviews on Amazon, so it might be worth checking out. Let’s start looking at the topic of today’s review: the G8 IEM. Here are some Tech Specs for your perusal:
Speaker – 9mm
Sensitivity – 102 +/- 3dB
Frequency response – 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz
Impedance – 32 Ω
Rated Power – 10mw
Max Power – 20mw
Connector – 3.5mm Jack Plug
Color – Black / Polished Aluminum
Cable Length – 1.2m
“The look and feel of the G8 Earphones by Base Audio is a great example of quality engineering built into a simple yet attractive design. You might notice the housing seems a little larger than similar earphones, which is due to the 9mm driver which is larger than similar products.”
The G8 is built with polished aluminum and while it doesn’t look or feel extraordinarily fancy, it does feel solid. It is a little larger than your average IEM, but it still fit comfortably in my ear. I never had any problem getting a good seal, but I know that can be a very personal thing so your mileage may vary there. With the impedance at 32 ohms and the sensitivity at 102, it isn’t very difficult to drive, yet it isn’t extremely sensitive either, so hiss should never be an issue with the G8 (if it is, I might think twice about your player). The cord is flat. Base Audio calls it tangle resistant, and so it must be, as I have yet to tangle it, and up to this point, there hasn’t been a cord that I couldn’t tangle. The only downside for me with the cable is that I like to drape the cable behind my ears, and it doesn’t always want to stay there. The cable is not detachable. It does have a mic and volume slider built into the cable, so you can turn down your music when taking a call. I can see that being useful for people with smart phones, but I wouldn’t know being that I hate them. Just as a note, I tend to be brief with the physical build part of my reviews. Please feel free to ask a question, if I left out something you would like to know.
Let’s talk about extras! It comes with a case.
Features:
Premium Bass Reproduction
Tangle Resistant Cord
Polished Aluminum Construction
Comfortable Lightweight Design
Durable Carrying Case
Moving on… ok, it comes with a nice little, hard shell case, but that is it. It doesn’t have a big fancy box (I’m ok with that one), or come with multiple tips (the tips they come with fit me well, but again, my ears aren’t yours). While I would like to complain about the lack of the extras, for the price, I do find it hard to. Their whole mission seems to be to spend all the money on the product itself… on the sound, and to let the “extraneous” things fall by the wayside. This may be a sticking point for you, or it may not. Personally, I like their train of thought here. Of course, this is all moot if the G8 doesn’t have the sound to back it up. So, let’s get to the main event on the next page.
On Sound
I should mention that I did most of my listening on my Cayin N6. It’s a wonderful sounding DAP, and I don’t care what L says, it is the best looking player on the market! Base Audio says the G8, “Delivers strong bass, yet provides a very bright sound signature.” That is very accurate. I love it when companies know what they gear sounds like.
“These larger drivers make for powerful lows and a good low-mid depth sound, while the highs are clear and crisp. The G8 earphones deliver a strong bass, yet provide a very bright sound signature as well. Bass lovers will find plenty to love about the G8 Earphones. While offering an admirable level of passive noise isolation and comfort, the G8’s deep spacing and brilliant detail across the soundstage, provide a remarkable sound at an affordable price. Simply put, listening to music with the G8 Earphones is truly an enjoyable experience.”
Strong bass certainly is accurate. The bass on the G8 is quite powerful. This is NOT a neutral amount of bass, but oh is it fun! The boy is big and the impact is hard. Bass decay is on the slower side, and this isn’t the tightest bass I have ever heard. It isn’t bloated or shapeless by any means, but some tightness was sacrificed for the body. Detail, layering and what not is very good for the price it is at, but don’t expect this to provide the last word bass clarity. If chest thumping bass is your thing, the G8 will certainly provide.
The upper range on the G8 is somewhat aggressive. It extends pretty far and offers good detail. It is definitely forward sounding. I don’t find it harsh in the least, but I can see how, over a long listening session, one might find the treble here a bit fatiguing. Here is where having a good source helps (well, having a good source always helps, but you get what I mean). I really like the highs here though. They, in tandem with the bass, kept me energized and engaged with the music.
Now, you would think that with the big bass and aggressive highs that I would be calling the G8 V-shaped in terms of its sound, but I really can’t do that. Neither the bass nor the treble overpower the mids, or bleed into them in any way. The mids are clear and detailed. It is almost as they offer a place of sanity between the more intense elements of the sound. It doesn’t sound like it should work, but it does. What’s more, the vocals manage to have good presence in the sound as well. Buried they are not.
Base Audio is making a deal about their large 9mm drivers, and I think they have good reason to. The sound on the G8 is surprisingly large for an IEM. The sound feels as if it is coming from out of your head, which is a pretty impressive achievement for the G8 if you ask me. The sound stage is pretty large, but the sounds, as I’m sure you could have guess, is rather forward. This might not be the best IEM for relaxing, but it sure is great for rocking out. Instrument separation is merely adequate.
I found the G8 to be enjoyable with most different kinds of music. I do have to admit I EQ’ed a little bass off when I used it for classical music, but it worked really well, and I found the music to be totally engaging. The tuba in the final movement of Kurt Atterberg’s 6th symphony is killer. The highlight for me here though is with good, old fashion rock music. The combination of the powerful bass and the clear voices made me feel like I had a rock concert going on inside my head. It really captured that sensation well. I can’t see myself ever tiring of that.
Comparisons
I just happen to have a Hifiman RE400 with me here, which is a very nice IEM that retails for $79. The RE400 has some softness at both extremes, which makes it pretty easy to listen to. It has good balance and clarity, and… sounds completely anemic next to the G8. Switching back, I really miss the extra presence at both ends, plus the G8 sounds so much larger, making the RE400 sound puny and polite by comparison. It keeps the music at arm’s length. Detail is also a solid win for the G8. A more interesting comparison is with the Alclair Curve universal ($250). They feel more like they are playing in the same league. Both have larger bass, but the Curve is more laid back, and doesn’t have the energy in the treble that the G8 has. The Curve is more v shaped and does a better job with more mellow vocal music (like my eternal goddess Jenny Lewis), but the G8 rocks harder.
Conclusion
The G8 by Base Audio is a competitive earphone. For the price of $145, it makes a good impress… what, its price is only $45? That’s absurd! No, it is actually worse than that. There are still plenty early bird specials left where you can get it for $35 with free shipping in the U.S. Or, you can order 2 pairs for $60 (maybe you and a buddy go in together, or perhaps give one as a gift). That’s nuts. For $45 tops, you can get an IEM that trounces a very good $79 dollar model and is very competitive with something that costs $250. They don’t need me. At this price, the G8 is beyond self-recommending. Unless you absolutely hate the idea of a brighter sound signature, or you just don’t do in ears (and to be fair, I do know a few people like this), there simply is no reason not to own one. You need an ass kicking IEM on the cheap? Check. You need a beater earphone that doesn’t compromise in sound quality? Check . The G8 is really good without bringing price into it. As far as bang-for-your-buck goes, it is just absurd. The Base Audio G8 is a steal. So please, help me rob Base Audio blind!
By Sade Spence – September 25, 2016
http://majorhifi.com/base-audio-g8-high-fidelity-headphones/
Base-Audio is back with a pair of high-fidelity in-ear headphones for the audiophile and commuter. Meet Base-Audio G8 high-fidelity headphones.
Base-Audio G8 High-Fidelity Headphones
These in-ear headphones are currently a working prototype that looks to be of a durable body. The exterior is an aluminum heavy-duty enclosure while the cord connector reinforces the cable to prevent breakage, kinks, and premature wear and tear on your wires. The wire is also flat to keep it from tangling.
When it comes to sound, Base-Audio promises some of the best. The headphones support an impedance of 32 ohms which makes them great for playback using portable, smart devices. The G8s have been fitted with 9 mm drivers that are said to deliver strong bass and a bright sound signature across the entire frequency response range of 20-20,000 Hertz. Designed to equip listeners with premium passive sound isolation, the earbuds should be able to retain depth and detail in your music, while still maintaining an open soundstage.
Although, the brand keeps the rest of their inner hardware a secret they’ve showcased some of the glowing reviews they’ve received on Amazon for their G7 headphones, in hopes that you’ll know to expect the best from their much smaller counterparts.
They’ve received comments like “comfortable and top quality headphones” and “the sound quality is far superior to anything I have had in the past.”