Vision Ears EXT doesn’t often come up in discussions of the best IEMs, but many who’ve heard it – and were able to get a good fit – rate EXT as one of their all time favorites. EXT managed to bring together technical prowess, natural timbre, and powerful dynamics in its somewhat odd-shaped shells. How does EXT MK II follow-up on this often overlooked IEM? Will it find its way into the ears of more listeners than its predecessor?
Build and Design
Vision Ears always puts together a great package, with unique cases and various extras presented in a top notch unboxing experience. EXT MK II is no exception, with a similar package to the original EXT. The shell itself is nearly identical to the original, and you’ll only really notice the differences on very close examination. One change is the option to go with either grey or purple for the IEM shell and the case. The purple is visually striking, but the grey is more reserved, and would be a better fit if you don’t want to draw attention to your IEMs. The included cable is nice, but looks and feels mostly “standard” with a simple rubber wrap.
The build consists of an acrylic shell with an aluminum faceplate, with the acrylic providing a custom IEM-like molding. The fit was one of the most controversial aspects of the original EXT and it remains mostly the same here. The biggest difference is the nozzle which is thinner than the original, making the fit a little easier and giving you more options with eartips.
Internally, EXT MK II uses the same combination of two dynamic drivers and four ESTs to achieve its sound, with the unique element of one DD handling the midrange – the goal being to provide a more natural organic midrange. Does EXT MK II achieve flagship level sound with its unique design?
Sound
EXT MK II strikes an incredible balance of aggression and refinement, with hard hitting bass; highly resolving treble, and a natural, organic midrange. Each element exists in balance with the others, presenting a coherent, cohesive sound.
The bass hits hard and fast, proving equally adept at delivering deep subbass rumble and tight midbass punch. The bass remains clean, and doesn’t create significant bleed up into the midrange.
The midrange is slightly recessed, but is loaded with detail and offers a highly natural timbre. Vocals are present and well-balanced in the mix, but male vocals in particular can feel pushed back in some songs. The general presentation of acoustic instruments and voices is highly lifelike though.
At the top of the frequency spectrum, EXT MK II presents a clean, clear, fast top end. The air and extension is excellent, and the treble is generally non-fatiguing, but there is a little extra energy in the 10kHz range that some may find hits some harsh notes with some voices or brass instruments.
The soundstage has a highly three-dimensional feeling that’s not overly wide, but provides a well-rounded holographic sense in the imaging, and a lifelike sense of the space and placement of voices and instruments. The air and extension in the treble can add a greater sense of space in some tracks, meaning that you’re getting an accurate representation of the imaging as it was mastered on the track.
Because of its fit, eartips are particularly important with EXT MK II. Where I typically use size large, I found medium or even small in some types of tips to work better than the typical larges. My top picks were the Comply Foam Smalls and SpinFit CP360 Medium. The TWS style eartips seemed to be better than most regular styles for EXT MK II as larger tips were prone to create more occlusion (“in your head” affect) than ones with less depth. Comply shaved off a little bit of that 10k peak, which eliminated any potential fatigue there.
On Coldplay’s “Hymn for the Weekend,” EXT MK II demonstrates strong treble extension without fatigue in the percussion, along with a wide, spacious feeling. The high-end extension also creates a revealing sense in mixing elements like the reverb. The vocals are set slightly back in the mix, but there’s a good sense of the vocal dynamics between the verse and chorus, with the chorus offering more vocal power. EXT MK II captures the deep synth bass extension, providing a lot of texture in the instruments.
With a more traditional recording like Thelonious Monk, “Ruby, My Dear” (Live), EXT MK II provides a brilliant soprano sax performance – there’s so much detail, you can practically taste the reed. The imaging spaces the band out well, and the bass and piano have a resonance that echoes in the room, giving you that true to life sensation in the imaging. The snare drum rolls are crisp and snappy with EXT MK II highlighting the skilled but reserved drumming nicely.
If you’re concerned about fatiguing treble in vocals, Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights” is a great test. Bush’s high pitched vocals are clear and present, and while it’s a little grating by design, it doesn’t feel excessive or sharp. EXT MK II gives you the full, crystal clear vocal performance without sounding harsh or fatiguing. The rest of the mix sounds good too. The Bass guitar is slightly emphasized in the mix, and there’s good impact in the drums, notable in the tom rolls, with nice layering and dynamics all around.
Comparison Vision Ears VE10, Vision Ears EXT
There are two key questions we need to answer for EXT MK II as it related to Vision Ears lineup:
- What’s has changed from the original EXT?
- How does it compare to the Vision Ears previous release in the same price range: VE10?
In terms of the build and comfort, VE10 is without a doubt the easiest fit of the three, while EXT MK II rates just slightly above the original EXT. In terms of looks, the EXT/MK II has the edge with a more striking design. Having the option for grey with EXT MK II means you can land somewhere in between as well.
In terms of sound, EXT MK II lands in the middle of VE10 and EXT. VE10 is the most neutral, with a greater focus on detail and clarity, while the original EXT has the most prominent bass of the three. EXT MK II is close to the bass of the EXT, but shifts the emphasis down slightly towards the subbass, while also adding more sparkle to the highs. VE10 also presents the most prominent vocals, while not quite reach the same lofty highs as EXT MK II.
For most listeners, I’d recommend EXT MK II as having the best combination of balanced tuning and strong bass performance for genres like pop and rock, but th fit might still be an issue for some people. The original EXT might be a step up if you listen exclusively to more modern pop/rock/electronic music and are likely to experience fatigue from the 10k treble range. VE10 is the pick for those who can trade the natural, organic feeling for greater clarity and detail.
The Bottom Line
EXT MK II excels as an all around IEM, which is particularly strong for more modern music, while offering a clear upgrade in detail and refinement over the original EXT. While the fit remains a concern, if you can make it work for your ears, EXT MK II’s blend of timbre, dynamics, and detail might just make for the perfect set of IEMs for those who “listen to everything” but primarily love to rock.
