We review the Vision Ears VE10, which is their new VE Line flagship in-ear monitor featuring a hybrid single dynamic and 9 BA driver configuration. It is priced at $3030.
Disclaimer: This was sent to us as a sample for our honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. We thank the team at Vision Ears for giving us this opportunity.
To read more about Vision Ears products we have assessed and compared on Headfonics click here.
Note, this article follows our latest scoring guidelines which you can read in more detail here.
The Vision Ears VE10 offers an incredible blend of technical capability, excitement, and tonal refinement in a high-end universal IEM.
It's hard to find fault with any aspect of tuning so I am pretty sure almost everyone will take something very positive from their listening experience save for those that require a massive soundstage
The launch of the new VE10 adds another feather to the cap of Vision Ear’s VE Line series. Remarkably, this is the first new addition to this lineup in a couple of years or since the launch of the VE7. Over the last few years, the Premium Line has gotten most of the love.
The VE10 is also the in-ear monitor that finally knocks the long-standing VE8 off of its perch. Yup, this is the new flagship offering from the company for the VE Line priced at $3030 in the US or €2,780.00 in the EU.
It offers several firsts also for this side of the business including the first hybrid driver model as well as the series debut universal model with a non-resin shell.
IMHO, it almost feels like a crossover Premium Line product and it may well signify a new and more flexible approach by the company to how they market their IEMs moving forward.
Tech Highlights
The Vision Ears VE10 is a hybrid multi-driver universal IEM with a driver configuration of a single 8mm dynamic driver combined with an acoustic low pass and 9 balanced armature drivers, 8 of which are 4 duals and 1 super tweeter.
The precise configuration is the dynamic driver squarely for the lows, with a dual BA for the low mids, a dual for the mids, another for the mid/highs, and the super tweeter for the ultra-highs using a 5-way crossover.
The VE10 also has a specially designed horn and geometric-shaped sound tubes from the drivers to extend the high-frequency range and minimize turbulence to reduce THD, (“distortion factor”).
The VE10 is rated at 8.4Ω @1kHz and 118.6 @100mV@1KHz so, it is a relatively sensitive monitor. Typically, I find a lot of Vision Ears IEMs to be very easy to drive with the VE10 being no exception. You can find out its pairing performance in more detail on page 2 of this review.
Design
The VE10 aesthetics and design language are a lot closer to the EXT than the Phonix or EVE20 universal options. It is also a complete break from the VE Line’s normal resin approach with the use of sturdy aluminum materials as opposed to resin.
Going back to the EXT form factor, the VE10 is a little bit bigger but retains a lot of the design flow of the Premium line variant. That includes the almost perpendicular extended nozzle that allows you to get a deep insertion combined with a fairly flat underside to keep everything flush and unobtrusive looking in your ear.
The finishing is a two-tone approach as opposed to ‘house purple’ with a mix of ribbed black for the shell and a striking matte silver/grey faceplate. Both the shell and plate’s aluminum are anodized with a slimline but long venting port to the front.
Like the EXT, the vibe is futuristic, almost Retro-80s in a way also with a stepped or raised fender on the base of the plate embossed with some strong VE X, (10) branding in black. The lines are aggressive but very smoothly cornered so it never feels sharp to the touch or when in your ear.
Comfort & Isolation
If you are coming from the EXT then the VE10 fitting should provide a familiar secure feeling.
That small body combined with the angular nozzle also creates some excellent levels of isolation for a vented hybrid dynamic driver IEM. It’s probably one of the more innovative IEM fittings I have used in high-end universal models over the last few years.
I did pitch the VE10 up against the EXT and Phonix and I do think the Premium Line models isolate just a little bit better but all three still performed very well.
There are several reasons for that order of performance. First, the EXT is a little bit smaller with a slightly curvier resin underside that seems to get a bit deeper and fit my ear a little bit better. The VE10’s aluminum material is a little bit flatter and I always find aluminum body not quite as good for sealing as resin.
Second, the Phonix is an all-BA IEM, which means no venting is required which improves the seal. Though it is a bigger monitor compared to the VE10 it still uses an angular nozzle that can fit similarly to the VE10.
Tips
A lot of the comfort and levels of isolation are going to be driven in part by the tips you use with the VE10.
Vision Ears seems to have settled on two brands for the universal models, including SpinFit, (CP145) and AZLA SednaEarfit, (the new Origin variant). You get a set for each in small, medium, and large sizes.
Both fit quite well though you might find the AZLA stem a bit stiffer for getting it over the lip of the VE10 nozzles. Certainly, they are a lot easier to tip roll compared to the very wide bore of the EXT so it shouldn’t take much effort to quickly replace them.
The SpinFit is usually my go-to for the EXT model but for the VE10 I found the AZLA Origin’s 10mm KCC silicone tips to be a better fit in terms of isolation and performance.
They do have a wider bore opening compared to the SpinFit and overall, the performance sounded more revealing and dynamic with these tips. They also isolate a bit better compared to the SpinFits whose softer and slightly shorter silicone hoods have an edge in overall comfort.
Stock Cable
We have a new stock cable design and wire for the VE10. Previously, it was a 1.2m 28AWG 8-wire SPC with 200d Kelvar for the EXT and a 4-wire silver-gold alloy with an OCC copper Litz geometry for the Phonix.
Now we have a 21AWG Silver Plated over 6NOCC copper with a Golden ratio and custom Litz structure geometry. This sells for 480,00 € alone on the VE website.
I presume it is a commissioned 4-wire creation with a little bit of thickness added by the larger 21AWG wire size and the softer cushion-like PVC that seems very popular with cable makers these days.
Gone is the old approach of terminating with a 2.5mm plug and throwing in a 4.4mm adaptor for those who might have needed it. We are now 4.4mm all in which makes sense. 4.4mm is pretty standard now compared to 1-2 years ago for most portable audiophile audio devices, either dongle or DAP.
The finishing is also on the brighter side compared to the black PVC wrap of the older cables. The PVC jacket is translucent so you get a nice sheen from the off-white wire underneath combined with a complimentary VE10 “X-Themed” aluminum splitter in black with a matching branded black 4.4mm plug and 2-pin connector barrels.
No issues with microphonics or memory retention for this cable. It handles like any well-crafted aftermarket cable with a nice cleanly braided finish that is supple and not too heavy for daily use.
Packaging & Accessories
Vision Ears always offers some nice packaging and though not as glorious as the elevating Elysium Box, the VE10 retail presentation is tidy and well thought out.
It’s a fairly slimline box with clear but plain branding on the front and a lift-lid layout below with an accessories box inside. Inside the box, you get an assortment of badges, a cleaning tool with spare filters to help keep the nozzle clean, as well as your warranty/welcome card.
Carry Case
Gone is the older and heavier puck-style carry case and instead, we have a more streamlined black leather rectangular case with an arched magnetic latch lid.
It’s light and deceptively bigger than you might think but there is no protection from the elements so you will need to keep this new design safe from the weather and dust if you want to protect your VE10.
It does have a stiff frame inside that ensures it won’t bend or yield inside any bag so I would not worry about anything inside the case from getting crushed.
Click on page 2 below for our sound impressions and recommended pairings.
